Chidimma Uchegbu – Abuja
The Federal Republic of Nigeria is hosting the Commemorative Ceremony marking the 50th Anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with the resonant theme “Stronger Together for a Brighter Future.” Under the Chairmanship of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This was contained in a statement signed by Alkasim Abdulkadir, Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy, to the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar. Delivering the welcome address Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar reflected on the historic journey of ECOWAS from its inception in 1975 to its emergence as a cornerstone of regional unity, economic integration, and collective security.
Ambassador Tuggar reminded attendees of the fragmented and underdeveloped state in which West African countries emerged from colonial rule, underscoring how ECOWAS was born out of a shared recognition that the region’s development could not proceed in isolation. He paid tribute to the visionary leadership of the Community’s founding fathers, who understood that integration not division was essential for growth, peace, and stability.
The Minister noted that ECOWAS stands today as a leading model among Africa’s Regional Economic Communities, with innovations such as the Community Levy, which has enabled financial autonomy, and a host of ambitious programmes and infrastructure projects. These include the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), the SIGMAT system for customs data integration, the Abidjan-Lagos and Abidjan-Dakar transport corridors, the West African Power Pool, and the framework for the African-Atlantic Gas Pipeline all of which embody ECOWAS’s mission of economic and infrastructural connectivity.
Addressing recent developments, Ambassador Tuggar acknowledged the temporary withdrawal of three member states but urged the community to remain focused on its larger vision. “Democracy is a process, not an event,” he stated, expressing confidence that the path of shared prosperity will ultimately draw all member states back into the fold. He reiterated that no single country in the region can achieve the scale necessary for global competitiveness on its own only through ECOWAS can West Africa realise its full potential.
In a forward-looking message, the Minister pointed to a new wave of opportunity rising in the Atlantic basin and stressed the importance of being ready and united to ride it. “This time, we will not be left behind,” he declared. “This time, we will be organised under ECOWAS. This time, it will be fair, inclusive, and driven by our own terms.”
Ambassador Tuggar concluded by highlighting the relevance of ECOWAS in responding to the challenges of today’s world from unregulated technologies and artificial intelligence to climate change, organised crime, and violent extremism. He called for renewed commitment to multilateralism, stressing that in an era of increasing global fragmentation, the need for institutions like ECOWAS has never been more urgent.
Nigeria, as the birthplace of ECOWAS, remains deeply committed to the ideals of integration, solidarity, and shared progress. The 50th Anniversary is not just a celebration of the past, but a recommitment to a common future.
