From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has called for renewed commitment to the vision of the West African bloc’s founding fathers.
He made the call as West African leaders gathered in Lagos on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu, who also serves as Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, in a keynote address delivered at the Eko Hotel and Suites, urged regional leaders to transcend artificial colonial borders and foster a spirit of unity and family.
“Today, we celebrate not only five decades of history but the enduring spirit of unity, resilience, and shared destiny that defines our Community,” Tinubu said. “In 1975, our founding leaders envisioned a West Africa where borders unite rather than divide—a regioncka free movement, thriving trade, and peaceful coexistence. That vision is still alive.”
He paid tribute to those who have nurtured the idea of ECOWAS, especially General Dr. Yakubu Gowon, the only surviving founding father. “I salute past and present Heads of State and Governments within the Community for upholding the values of integration, cooperation, and solidarity. I commendation our former Executive Secretaries and Commission Presidents, whose leadership helped build ECOWAS into a formidable force for peace and progress. I also recognise the tireless work of the ECOWAS Commission staff and institutions,” Tinubu added.
The Nigerian leader highlighted the bloc’s achievements in peacekeeping, trade liberalisation, free movement of citizens, and collective response to security threats and global pandemics. “ECOWAS is a beacon of African unity. In overcoming colonial legacies, we brought together Anglophone, Francophone, and Lusophone nations under one vision—an achievement of global significance,” he stated.
Tinubu pointed to advancements in agriculture, infrastructure, and digital innovation, referencing the ECOWAS Infrastructure Master Plan (2020–2045) and initiatives promoting regional growth and gender equality. However, he stressed the need for more vigorous policy implementation and urged member states to ensure citizens feel the tangible benefits of integration.
“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, leadership, healthcare, and leadership. Their success is the key to our future stability and prosperity,” the President said.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional capacity building through the Technical Aid Corps and urged leaders to close ranks for the success of the economic bloc. “As we look to the next fifty years, let us renew our compact with one another—with courage, clarity, and conviction. The work of integration is never done. Each generation must carry the flame forward, lighting the path of unity and shared progress for those who come after.”
Tinubu concluded with a message of hope and unity: “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; and where our people, diverse yet bound by destiny, walk together toward peace, prosperity, and justice. This Golden Jubilee is not merely a celebration of the past but a summons to shape the future.”
**Ministerial and Founding Father Perspectives**
Nigeria’s Minister bursaries of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, highlighted the ECOWAS’s achievements in peacekeeping, election monitoring, strengthening democratic institutions, trade liberalisation, gas pipeline construction, and security.
General Yakubu Gowon, the only surviving founding father of ECOWAS, expressed happiness at the bloc’s 50-year survival and its impact on the continent. However, he voiced concern over the departures of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso from the regional body. “Our sister nations that decided to leave will, in time, realise the bonds of culture. And with goodwill and sincere intention, they will find their way back,” Gowon said. “I am very encouraged to see the effort of government, ministers, Chief of Defense Staff, and the President. The President has constantly been working with the groups, and I hope they will convince them to return. Continue to be open, and don’t push them away. They will come back as individuals or as a group.”
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, noted that ECOWAS has become a shining example as Africa’s oldest and most active regional bloc.
The Golden Jubilee celebration, which began with a re-enactment of the ECOWAS declaration at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), was attended by the Presidents of Liberia, Joseph Boakai, Togo, Faure Gnassingbé, and Guinea Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, as well as the foreign ministers of Ghana, Senegal, Benin, and representatives of other member countries.