By Uriel Ihotu
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is marking its 50th anniversary with a grand commemorative ceremony in Nigeria, chaired by the current ECOWAS Chairman and President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Held under the theme “Stronger Together for a Brighter Future,” the golden jubilee celebration underscores ECOWAS’s continued commitment to regional integration, economic cooperation, peace, and collective security.
In his welcome address, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, traced the remarkable journey of ECOWAS since its founding in 1975. He described it as a beacon of hope and a model of regional cooperation on the African continent.
“Our founding fathers believed that integration—not division—was the key to lasting peace, sustainable development, and collective prosperity,” Tuggar said.
Highlighting the organization’s achievements over the last five decades, Ambassador Tuggar noted key innovations such as the Community Levy, which provides ECOWAS with financial independence, the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), and the West African Power Pool aimed at enhancing energy access across member states.
While acknowledging the recent temporary withdrawal of three member states from the bloc, the Minister expressed optimism that the vision of shared prosperity would eventually reunite all countries under the ECOWAS umbrella.
“No single country in our region can achieve global competitiveness in isolation,” Tuggar stressed. “ECOWAS is our vehicle for transformation and a platform to engage opportunities, especially across the Atlantic basin.”
He called on member states to renew their commitment to multilateralism, strengthen bonds of solidarity, and uphold the core values of integration and cooperation in the face of global challenges.
Ambassador Tuggar concluded by reaffirming Nigeria’s unwavering dedication to ECOWAS’s goals and the broader vision of a peaceful, united, and prosperous West Africa
