President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on West African leaders to uphold the vision of the founding fathers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as the regional bloc marks its 50th anniversary.
Delivering a keynote address at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos on Wednesday, Tinubu, who serves as Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, urged leaders to transcend colonial borders and embrace unity across the region.
“Today, we celebrate not only five decades of history but the enduring spirit of unity, resilience, and shared destiny that defines our Community,” he said.
“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.”
Paying tribute to past and present leaders, Tinubu hailed the contributions of those who built ECOWAS into a regional force.
“I salute past and present Heads of State and Governments within the Community for upholding the values of integration, cooperation, and solidarity,” he said.
“I also recognise the tireless work of the ECOWAS Commission staff and institutions.”
He specifically honoured General Dr. Yakubu Gowon, GCFR the only surviving founding father of ECOWAS.
President Tinubu highlighted the bloc’s achievements in peacekeeping, trade liberalisation, regional integration, and cooperation on health and security issues.
“ECOWAS is a beacon of African unity,” he said.
“Our region has pioneered free movement, expanded intra-regional trade, and deepened integration. On peace and security, ECOWAS has acted decisively to restore constitutional order and counter instability.”
He noted progress in governance, agriculture, infrastructure, and digital innovation, citing the ECOWAS Infrastructure Master Plan (2020–2045) as a major step forward. Still, he emphasized the need for greater policy implementation and citizen impact.
“Our young people and women—who form the majority—must be at the heart of ECOWAS development. We must invest deliberately in their education, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and leadership,” Tinubu stated.
“For nearly 40 years, Nigeria has supported regional capacity building through the Technical Aid Corps. We remain committed to deploying skilled professionals to ECOWAS countries.”
Looking ahead, the President urged member states to recommit to the ECOWAS vision.
“Let us imagine a West Africa where no child is denied opportunity because of where they are born; where our borders are zones of cooperation, not conflict; where our economies thrive through joint effort,” he said.
“This Golden Jubilee is not merely a celebration of the past but a summons to shape the future.”
The President reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering support for ECOWAS and called for renewed cooperation among member states.
Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar also commended ECOWAS’s role in strengthening democratic institutions, election monitoring, peacekeeping, trade liberalisation, and regional infrastructure development, including gas pipeline construction.
General Yakubu Gowon, speaking at the event, expressed satisfaction that ECOWAS had endured for 50 years.
“I am happy that the regional body has survived and impacted the continent,” he said.
Commenting on the exit of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso from the bloc, Gowon said, “Our sister nations that decided to leave will, in time, realise the bonds of culture… They will come back as individuals or as a group.”
He urged the region to remain open and accommodating.
“Continue to be open, and don’t push them away,” he advised.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, described the bloc as Africa’s oldest and most active regional organisation.
The 50th anniversary celebration began with a symbolic re-enactment of the ECOWAS declaration at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA). The event 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 several other member countries.