Former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, and President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday led the ceremonial signing of a commemorative card marking the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The historic ceremony took place at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) conference chamber, the same venue where the original ECOWAS treaty was signed in 1975, before moving to Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos where activities are currently ongoing.
General Gowon, who holds the distinction of being the only surviving leader among the original signatories of the treaty that established ECOWAS, received special recognition for his pioneering role in promoting regional integration across West Africa.
Regional Leaders in Attendance
The ceremony saw the participation of several West African heads of state, including the Presidents of Liberia, Togo, and Guinea-Bissau. Together, they issued a joint declaration reaffirming their commitment to the founding ideals and aspirations of ECOWAS.
Other member states were represented by high-level delegations. However, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso were notably absent from the proceedings, following their recent withdrawal from the regional bloc due to political disagreements with the current ECOWAS leadership.
President Tinubu, who arrived in Lagos on Tuesday specifically for the anniversary celebrations, is expected to use his presence in his home state to commission several federal projects implemented under his administration.
The 50th anniversary comes at a challenging time for the regional body, which has faced significant tests to its unity following political upheavals in several member states and disagreements over regional security and governance approaches.
Despite these challenges, the commemorative event highlighted ECOWAS's five-decade journey of promoting economic integration, political cooperation, and collective security across West Africa, with leaders emphasizing the need for renewed commitment to regional solidarity.
