In a significant acknowledgement of regional cooperation, President Bola Tinubu has praised the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for its remarkable achievements over nearly five decades. Speaking at the 50th anniversary celebration of ECOWAS in Lagos, President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the regional bloc, emphasizing the country’s historic role in shaping West Africa’s path to peace, integration, and shared prosperity.
President Tinubu noted that Nigeria has been at the heart of ECOWAS since its inception in 1975, serving as a pillar of regional development, cooperation, and solidarity. He paid tribute to General Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s former Head of State and the only surviving leader among the original signatories of the ECOWAS Treaty, for laying the foundation of the community. The President also highlighted Nigeria’s consistent contributions to ECOWAS, including the deployment of skilled professionals through the Technical Aid Corps to various member states.
The President cited several successes as hallmarks of ECOWAS’s achievements, including the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, joint border initiatives, and interventions to restore constitutional order in troubled member states. He described ECOWAS as a “beacon of African unity,” which has overcome colonial-era divisions to forge a shared vision, uniting Anglophone, Francophone, and Lusophone nations under one cooperative umbrella.
However, President Tinubu cautioned that regional integration must move beyond policy to tangible outcomes, emphasizing the need for implementation and action. “Our greatest task is implementation,” he urged. “Our citizens must feel the impact of our decisions. Let us match words with action.” This call to action underscores the importance of translating ECOWAS’s vision into concrete results that benefit the people of West Africa.
As ECOWAS marks its 50th anniversary, President Tinubu’s remarks underscore the significance of regional cooperation and Nigeria’s commitment to the community’s continued growth and development. The President’s emphasis on implementation and tangible outcomes highlights the need for ECOWAS to focus on delivering concrete results that improve the lives of its citizens, ensuring a brighter future for the region.
