At an elaborate 50th anniversary celebration of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, in Lagos, President Bola Tinubu Wednesday asked West African leaders to uphold the founding vision the regional bloc.
In a keynote address, President Tinubu — who also serves as Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government — urged member nations to move beyond colonial-era boundaries and work towards greater regional integration and solidarity.
“Today, we celebrate not only five decades of history but the enduring spirit of unity, resilience, and shared destiny that defines our Community. In 1975, our founding leaders envisioned a West Africa where borders unite rather than divide — a region of free movement, thriving trade, and peaceful coexistence. That vision is still alive”, said Tinubu.
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The President paid tribute to past ECOWAS leaders and institutions for their role in fostering regional cooperation, with special recognition given to General Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s former Head of State and the only surviving founding father of ECOWAS.
Tinubu highlighted ECOWAS’s achievements in regional peacekeeping, trade liberalisation, counterterrorism, pandemic response, and democratic governance. He described the bloc as a “beacon of African unity,” having successfully brought together Anglophone, Francophone, and Lusophone countries under a shared vision.
“Our region has pioneered free movement, expanded intra-regional trade, and deepened integration through instruments like the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme and Joint Border Post.
“We have also acted decisively to restore constitutional order and counter insecurity”, said Tinubu.
He emphasized progress in areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, and digital innovation, referencing long-term initiatives like the ECOWAS Infrastructure Master Plan (2020–2045). However, he urged member states to intensify policy implementation to ensure citizens directly feel the benefits of integration.
“Our young people and women must be at the heart of ECOWAS development. We must invest in their education, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and leadership. Their success is the key to our future stability and prosperity”, he advised.
He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s continued commitment to regional development through programmes such as the Technical Aid Corps, which deploys skilled Nigerian professionals across ECOWAS member states.
Worried by ongoing regional tensions, President Tinubu called for unity among member states and expressed optimism that Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso — which recently withdrew from the bloc — would eventually return.
“The work of integration is never done. Each generation must carry the flame forward.
“Let us imagine a West Africa where our borders are zones of cooperation, not conflict; where our economies thrive through joint effort; and where our people walk together toward peace, prosperity, and justice”, he said
Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar noted ECOWAS’s role in promoting democracy, overseeing elections, and advancing security and trade through key infrastructure projects, including gas pipeline initiatives.
General Gowon, who was among the architects of ECOWAS, expressed pride in the longevity and achievements of the union but lamented the exit of some member states, calling it “unhealthy for regional progress.” He encouraged continued diplomacy to persuade them to return.
“They will come back, either as individuals or as a group. Just keep the doors open”, Gowon advised.
ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Alieu Touray described ECOWAS as Africa’s most active and enduring regional organization, reflecting a legacy of cooperation that continues to inspire.
The Golden Jubilee celebration included a re-enactment of the original ECOWAS declaration at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs where all member countries signed the fresh document.
It was attended by Presidents Joseph Boakai of Liberia, Faure Gnassingbé of Togo, and Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, along with foreign ministers and representatives from Ghana, Senegal, Benin, and other member countries.
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