IPOKIA– July 1, 2025 – In a concerted effort to foster regional integration and cultivate resilient border communities, the Executive Chairman of Ipokia Local Government, Hon. Johnson Akohomeh Avoseh, actively participated in the 2025 African Border Day. His attendance underscored the council’s unwavering commitment to cross-border cooperation and development initiatives.
The event, themed “Building Community Resilience and Economic Development Through Cross-Border Cooperation,” brought together key regional stakeholders to advance peace, stability, and economic development in Africa’s border areas.
Leading the Ogun State delegation, the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele FNSE, who also chairs the Nigeria–Benin International Border Platform, delivered a compelling keynote address. She emphasized the profound importance of African Border Day and advocated for the inclusion of state governors in future engagements, highlighting that many recommendations necessitate executive action for effective implementation.
Given its extensive shared boundary with the Republic of Benin, Ipokia Local Government plays a pivotal role in Nigeria’s cross-border trade, security, and integration within the ECOWAS sub-region. African Border Day serves as a crucial platform to raise awareness about the significance of borders in promoting peace, development, and economic cooperation.
This year’s celebration aligns seamlessly with the African Union’s overarching 2025 theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.” The theme calls for addressing the enduring legacy of colonial border divisions that have fragmented communities across the African continent.
The celebration particularly highlighted the imperative of transforming borders from potential points of conflict into vital bridges of cooperation. It also showcased the notable progress achieved under the African Union Border Programme (AUBP), the African Union Border Governance Strategy, and the Niamey Convention – all foundational frameworks ratified by Nigeria to bolster integration, stability, and prosperity across Africa’s borders.
Ipokia Local Government reaffirms its steadfast dedication to supporting sound border governance, enhancing collaboration among local stakeholders, and contributing meaningfully to the successful attainment of ECOWAS and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) objectives through structured and peaceful cross-border engagement.
