00:02 Good day students.

00:14 My name is Mr. Nkamu , NUbi.

00:19 I'm here to teach geography.

00:23 For today, we shall be considering ECOWAS.

00:30 ECOWAS, at the end of this lesson,

00:35 you should be able, students should be able to state

00:41 the meaning of the acronym ECOWAS.

00:46 What does it mean?

00:47 Two, you should be able to identify and know

00:54 the various countries that make up the ECOWAS.

00:59 We call them ECOWAS member states.

01:04 Then, you should be able to discuss the purpose

01:08 for which ECOWAS was formed also states

01:14 the advantages and disadvantages

01:23 of ECOWAS.

01:26 Well, after looking at the advantages,

01:30 how do we solve the problem

01:31 that will be the last thing you should be able to learn

01:34 will suggest solutions to ECOWAS' problems.

01:39 So, what is ECOWAS?

01:46 You must have had about this word for ECOWAS means

01:53 economic community of West African states.

01:57 Look at the first word, economic.

02:06 The one reason why these states are coming together

02:10 is for their economic well-being.

02:13 That is the number one thing there.

02:16 So, these states are going to come together.

02:19 So, they can be able to foster,

02:22 treat and make sure that in that sub-region,

02:27 they're able to put what they have together

02:31 to make sure that they are not slaves

02:35 to other nations and other countries.

02:38 Now, like I've said, it is an economic organization

02:47 that was formed in 1975

02:52 by West African heads of states of 15 countries

02:59 in particular on May 28th, 1975.

03:07 This is when this body was formed.

03:14 Then Cape Verge is also a member who joined there after

03:19 after this initial 15 countries.

03:22 The Ekoas, the Secretariat is located at Abuja.

03:28 Well, what is the purpose?

03:34 What is the mandate?

03:36 What is the reason?

03:39 What is if these states come together

03:42 and say, well, less from an organization,

03:44 I'm sure you have heard about organizations like

03:47 our African Union and many other organizations like that.

03:55 But for this one in particular, what you're talking about,

03:59 Ekoas, why do you want to look at the real aim?

04:01 What are the aim, what are the reason?

04:04 Why this organization is from number one?

04:06 It is to encourage free movement of goods

04:12 and services within the sub-region.

04:16 For example, we have Ghana, we have to go 15 of them.

04:21 All we have after is that if we want to go into trade,

04:25 we will have rice, we have granons,

04:28 or we have crude oil, or we have Gary,

04:32 we should be able to come together

04:35 in trying to bring rice or bring Gary,

04:36 there should not be unnecessary hurdles

04:39 to discourage these middle men and women

04:44 that are bringing this in.

04:45 We should be free, we should be able to trade and help ourselves.

04:49 That's another reason.

04:50 The second reason why this organization is formed

04:54 is to pull resources together to promote developments.

04:59 Nigeria should develop, Malaysia should develop

05:03 another country like that.

05:05 And to avoid wasteful duplication of efforts.

05:10 Let's know where you have a comparative advantage.

05:13 Are you good at robber?

05:14 Do you have robber? Do you have crude oil?

05:16 Why do you waste a license?

05:17 I have it here.

05:18 Go and watch your land is good for.

05:20 Go and watch what you can survive.

05:22 The adapter can just do like a exchanging.

05:24 So try to, no channel you have efforts

05:29 to watch you have a comparative advantage

05:32 than just doing anything.

05:34 And the other aim is to reduce the economic dependence

05:42 on foreign countries.

05:43 For now we are about to have slaves.

05:44 Why did I say we are slaves?

05:48 If you look at this of recent, from pin to toothpick,

05:54 to your ruler, to your pencil, to your cutting comb,

05:59 and everything is coming from other countries.

06:04 Keep on importing, importing, importing,

06:06 give them our money.

06:07 And we are not able to end up some region

06:10 to see how you can produce these things.

06:12 So it is so that you cannot be slaves.

06:15 Just working for these people.

06:17 That is why this organization was formed.

06:21 Also to strengthen their bargaining power,

06:25 international trade.

06:26 If you pull your sources together,

06:28 you have power in international trade.

06:32 These are the reasons why this body came up.

06:36 It's making progress, a lot of progress,

06:38 this body has made.

06:39 And then some airing nations too are caught water.

06:43 But as it starts, I want to now show you the members,

06:48 the states that make up the ECOAS.

06:52 There are 15 member countries in ECOAS.

06:55 They are, well, though that wall is fair,

06:58 meaning in natural we call it meaning, but this is a country

07:02 called it Bene.

07:05 We have co-developed look-out experts.

07:08 We have Gambia.

07:10 We have Ghana.

07:12 Guinea.

07:13 And then we also have Guinea-Bissau Liberia.

07:17 Mali.

07:19 Look at what we look like in our nature.

07:21 But it's called Nigerian.

07:23 Then we have Nigerian.

07:25 We have Senegal.

07:27 We have Serialun.

07:29 These are the nations that came together

07:34 to form this economic body.

07:37 And look at the map I placed there.

07:39 You could see Nigeria, you could see Nigerian,

07:42 you could see Mali, you could see Kodivon, Serialun,

07:46 and so on and so forth.

07:48 Togo.

07:50 And Burkina Faso.

07:53 Mauritania pulled out into O2.

07:57 They said they were part of it, they pulled out.

07:59 But that didn't dissolve the organization.

08:04 See, the map I've shown to you.

08:07 Other remaining countries still continued.

08:12 What has been the advantage of Acroas?

08:15 Since it is established, since it was formed.

08:18 Are there good things they have done?

08:21 Yes.

08:23 They have been able to resolve conflicts.

08:27 If I lay to O2, in particular between Nigeria and Cameroon,

08:34 there was a time we have a problem with Bacasi, Penicilla,

08:40 in the boundary of Cross River and Cameroon.

08:43 It was a very serious issue.

08:46 This organization rose to what it should be.

08:50 And they were able to resolve it.

08:52 Even though that was seeded to Cameroon.

08:55 But for us, we go to work.

08:57 Many shows are lost.

08:58 And then things are destroyed.

09:00 It was seeded.

09:01 So this particular body played a very great role.

09:06 So that there will be peace.

09:08 And that's one of the mandates that

09:11 it should be to settle conflicts among the member countries.

09:18 It helps the movement of people, of goods, and services.

09:26 And even economic Acroas visas are given

09:29 on to members to visit countries.

09:32 You know that of recent-- there was some month back last year

09:37 that our president has to say because of his audiences,

09:42 let's close the border.

09:45 He forgot that one of the reason why Acroas was established

09:49 so that they can be free trade.

09:51 He said, because arms are brought in a lot of things

09:53 muggling.

09:55 It was not very easy.

09:57 But thank God it is now open.

09:59 So it is so enable you to bring your tomatoes,

10:03 to bring your arms, onions, and the raisins.

10:05 We did this state and sell so that we can be buoyant and be able

10:10 to team up and also help other bodies.

10:16 There is increase in volume of trade.

10:20 That is another major achievement.

10:24 If you are the border town, like Seymour Badagri,

10:27 or like a Oediruku at the other side, another place.

10:33 You will discover that all the time this trade is going on.

10:36 Goods are brought in. Goods are taken out.

10:40 It is as a result of this body.

10:42 Because of this body, that is allowed.

10:45 You can take your goods out like that outside this body.

10:47 So that's another achievement.

10:50 Through the effort of the community,

10:53 good road network from Nigeria to Togo, we now have it.

11:01 I'm sure also if you are current, there was a time--

11:05 it was not too long ago that we were told that there was a rail

11:11 that is the not that joined Niji.

11:15 Again, a presidency is as a kind of agreement.

11:21 Or what I will show to you now, there should be good roads real

11:25 so that these goods can move without any issue.

11:29 And this body has also been able to facilitate and decongest ports.

11:36 For instance, Ghana came to the rescue of Nigeria

11:40 when it had problems of congestion of her ports.

11:44 If you also remember so many, maybe before you were born,

11:47 we have Ghanaians all over the world.

11:49 So all over Nigeria, all over the world, everywhere.

11:51 But the time came, that is why we have that baggana must go.

11:55 And then they have to go.

11:57 So all that is made possible as a result

12:01 of this particular organization.

12:05 It promotes ports, supporting activities among members,

12:09 members of Ghana, but a waffle cup and the rest things.

12:13 It has been able to establish a cost bank in Lumi.

12:19 These are all the achievements.

12:22 You are aware I showed you, it's a material before,

12:25 they were able to build Ecoa's headquarters at Abuja.

12:31 The building of Fedeqoa, that is, it's an e-project

12:36 between Nigeria and the Benny Republic,

12:41 it is this body that facilitated all this.

12:45 There's also an introduction of Ecoa's insurance.

12:51 You could see a lot of benefits.

12:53 Insurance scheme for members who we should travel out

12:57 of their countries.

12:59 There is also increase in cooperation

13:03 among member countries.

13:07 That is how our president was told,

13:08 but look at the agreement, look at this.

13:11 A lot of people will have said, I wouldn't do this,

13:13 I wouldn't do that.

13:14 They have to look at the organization and say,

13:15 but this is what we agree, let it go on.

13:18 So they have to, you know, we draw from all this stiff

13:21 penalties, measures and things that we put in place before

13:25 to hinder free trading, commenting and commenting

13:29 of items of food and then going out.

13:34 Well, let's look at the disadvantages of Ecoa's.

13:39 Whatever has, whatever is good.

13:41 Sometimes it will also have this other aspect.

13:44 I bear disadvantages, I bear bad things about it.

13:50 It creates financial burden on the richer,

13:55 updated countries because most of these very small countries

14:00 or communities now would depend on the bigger ones.

14:05 Like, naturalize a big brother in Ecoa's.

14:10 They also should have some of their financial,

14:14 but also you have had, when there was a problem in Mali,

14:18 what told us, contrasts will come together

14:21 have to send some placement to go there.

14:23 And here we have our challenges here.

14:25 So these are what the big brother must do as a bigger country.

14:28 So sometimes they bought into the,

14:30 they don't want the canals of their problems.

14:33 They want to make sure that they get to the agreement.

14:38 Due to freedom created by Ecoa's,

14:42 there is a necessity of food in source regions.

14:47 Because food items are transported to other countries.

14:52 Even when these food items are produced in Nigeria here.

14:55 For example, we have about electricity.

14:59 Because of this treaty, you have agreements.

15:01 They want to satisfy that in Ghana.

15:04 Where they have this light.

15:06 And then to the detriment, we that are in Nigeria here,

15:10 our light is not 24/7.

15:12 So, and even the food, they will prefer to take food over there.

15:16 Why the food is not here?

15:18 That is a disadvantage.

15:20 As far as Ecoa's is concerned.

15:24 Another demerit is that the free movement of people within

15:29 this region has increased population.

15:34 I mentioned Ghana, China, we have to go.

15:37 There are very many all over.

15:39 So we don't have very good jobs.

15:41 We don't have uncommon, there are no jobs.

15:43 They have to take to either do one thing or the other.

15:47 But it's not very good.

15:49 And then to the receiving countries like Nigeria,

15:52 it's a good example where many people,

15:55 from West Africa countries, go to go and remain there.

15:59 They want to survive.

16:01 Yes, the road has been open.

16:02 So it's a setback.

16:04 Some of them are into stealing.

16:08 Some of them are into wanting all the other fighting.

16:11 And so just they join a lot of things in that country,

16:16 the host country.

16:17 So that is a demerit.

16:21 Yes, we've looked at the advantages.

16:24 We've looked at the demerits.

16:27 Are there problems on resolved yet?

16:29 Sure, there are problems.

16:32 This is what we want to look at now.

16:35 One of the problems facing these 15 countries

16:38 is different in currency.

16:41 You are aware that Nigeria is using NARA and Cobo.

16:45 Ghana had their own currency.

16:47 Look at that.

16:48 They are also trying to trade a move here and there.

16:52 Trying to change this currency is a barrier.

16:55 It's a problem to try to resolve.

16:58 They're still working on its own.

16:59 They're not yet true with it.

17:01 So it still hinders this trade as they are expected

17:05 to move.

17:06 It cannot flow that way again because of this currency

17:09 differences.

17:11 Political instability.

17:13 In Mali here, you had a military came back.

17:18 And even this organization has suspended them

17:21 that until they return back to what you call the democracy.

17:25 So we have this political instability.

17:27 Sometimes having all these countries, also a challenge.

17:31 Even at this age where these countries are,

17:34 we have the administration making the progress

17:37 of Elcovas very, very slow.

17:42 They say it cannot resolve some of these problems.

17:45 We have another major challenge, which

17:48 is production of similar goods.

17:52 Who does not give room for good trade?

17:55 What does that mean?

17:57 I have rice in Nigeria.

18:00 Then it has rice.

18:01 Cobo has rice.

18:03 We are doing the same thing.

18:04 So what is the difference?

18:06 And then all you have, granot or here, granot here,

18:09 or coco or rubber.

18:11 That's also what Ghana has.

18:13 And that's still on that thing.

18:15 So yes, it's not even there.

18:18 Many countries are not ready to end the phone

18:22 to look at what they have a comparative advantage over.

18:28 That is also a problem.

18:30 Production of similar goods.

18:33 What about language barrier?

18:35 Even in Nigeria here, you cannot sometimes

18:39 move for a very long time, different languages.

18:42 And for you to trade, the language is very important.

18:45 So language has been a barrier.

18:47 In West Africa, some countries speak English.

18:51 Why others speak French?

18:52 Besides these, there are other languages.

18:56 Therefore, communication, training becomes difficult.

19:02 So language barrier.

19:04 And what about attachment to colonial masters?

19:11 Nigeria is colonized by the British.

19:15 Compared to all the French countries,

19:17 the Dakota, by the France, by the French.

19:19 So they say about attachment.

19:22 Though the countries are independent,

19:25 but are still taking directives,

19:29 a social, buying arms, a lot of things,

19:33 these countries where they're influenced

19:35 are still on these particular 15 countries.

19:41 Fear of domination by Bitcoin.

19:45 So so you problem.

19:47 So so you problem, some countries are afraid.

19:49 Are you sure Nigeria will not swallow or they will not--

19:52 how do you call it?

19:52 Are next countries-- look at how big they are.

19:55 So that has always been a challenge.

19:58 And that fear is there.

19:59 So it's also a problem.

20:01 What about inadequate transport services and facilities

20:06 to move these goods out?

20:08 In particular, in polydeveloped countries,

20:14 where they have very poor transport arrangements.

20:19 No good roads.

20:20 The rail is not there.

20:22 And then it's a problem.

20:23 And you move these things.

20:25 If so, they're not even good on water as well.

20:28 That's also a problem.

20:31 Irregular payment of-- they pay dues.

20:33 They must have a post.

20:36 Just a amount of money is paid.

20:37 Payed every month or every day to that post.

20:39 So that if they are challenging, they can use it and solve it.

20:42 Some nations after a time, after a while,

20:46 they are not able to meet up with these dues any longer.

20:53 There are other organizations in West Africa,

20:55 in which most countries are members.

21:00 Well, have a look at these problems.

21:04 How do we solve them?

21:06 What are the solutions?

21:07 Maybe if I have to ask you, give me solutions, you give me some.

21:10 That is good.

21:11 Maybe if you have mentioned currency,

21:13 or have to solve it, that would be good.

21:14 But here we are.

21:15 I give you what I have.

21:17 Stability should be brought into West African government.

21:20 You know, that's a key problem.

21:22 But at least all these countries, they have a problem with their governments.

21:26 And to the democratically elected government,

21:31 there should be improved transport system.

21:35 I don't know how I'm going to do this one,

21:36 but they say that we should look for common language.

21:38 That we are going to have dogs so that we can't be selling.

21:40 I don't know how you're going to throw away our language, but it's well.

21:43 You say, well, we can solve it.

21:44 Otherwise, we'll sell it if you call it this way.

21:46 You get there, cannot throw away the language.

21:47 You come in a barrier.

21:49 There should be freedom of trade, reduction of custom duties

21:52 and tariff.

21:53 When these things are brought, we should consider

21:55 we have added an agreement.

21:56 Let them be free trade.

21:57 Let's say solution to all these hurdles,

22:00 all these problems that we see to this,

22:03 our journey road meeting, other countries.

22:07 There should be stronger commitment by member to echo us projects.

22:12 Please, everybody should be committed so

22:15 that this particular organization can be able to survive

22:21 and stand.

22:23 Now, we've been able to look at echo us as a way

22:27 to be sure you are following me.

22:30 You can, after now, try to explain.

22:33 Explain to you this acronym, ECOS.

22:36 Locates in a map I've shown to you before.

22:40 These states, list them out.

22:42 State major functions of the echo us.

22:44 Why is it established?

22:46 Explain the benefit of echoing members.

22:49 Describe about five problems

22:53 that already I have shown to you

22:58 a proper solution.

23:02 Thanks for watching.

23:06 My name is Mikanu NU.

23:09 See you next time.

23:19 (upbeat music)