By Joy Odor
The 50th Anniversary Commemorative Ceremony of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is being held in Nigeria, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu chairing the event. The ceremony’s theme, “Stronger Together for a Brighter Future,” reflects the organization’s commitment to regional unity, economic integration, and collective security.
In his welcome address, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, highlighted ECOWAS’s historic journey from its inception in 1975 to its current status as a leading model among Africa’s Regional Economic Communities.
He paid tribute to the visionary leadership of ECOWAS’s founding fathers, who understood that integration, not division, was essential for growth, peace, and stability.
Ambassador Tuggar noted that ECOWAS has made significant progress, including innovations like the Community Levy, which has enabled financial autonomy, and ambitious programs like the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and the West African Power Pool.
He acknowledged the temporary withdrawal of three member states but expressed confidence that the path of shared prosperity would ultimately draw them back into the fold.
The Minister emphasized that no single country in the region can achieve global competitiveness on its own and that ECOWAS is essential for West Africa to realize its full potential.
He highlighted the importance of being united and ready to seize new opportunities, particularly in the Atlantic basin.
Ambassador Tuggar concluded by stressing the relevance of ECOWAS in responding to global challenges and called for renewed commitment to multilateralism.
He reiterated Nigeria’s deep commitment to the ideals of integration, solidarity, and shared progress that ECOWAS represents.
