President Bola Tinubu has described the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a "beacon of African unity" during the regional bloc's 50th anniversary celebration held in Lagos on Wednesday.

In his address, Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria's unwavering commitment to ECOWAS, emphasizing the country's historic and continuing role in shaping West Africa's path to peace, integration, and shared prosperity since the bloc's inception in 1975.

"Nigeria has stood at the heart of ECOWAS since its inception in 1975," President Tinubu declared. "For nearly five decades, we have remained a pillar of regional development, cooperation, and solidarity."

The President paid special tribute to Nigeria's former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, the only surviving leader among the original signatories of the ECOWAS Treaty, acknowledging his pivotal role in establishing what has become "a formidable institution for unity in West Africa."

Highlighting Nigeria's consistent contributions to the regional body, Tinubu pointed to initiatives like the Technical Aid Corps, which for nearly 40 years has deployed skilled Nigerian professionals to serve in various ECOWAS member states.

"We remain ready to support regional capacity-building and honour every eligible request for assistance," he affirmed.

Regional Integration Achievements

President Tinubu highlighted several key achievements of ECOWAS over its five decades of existence, including the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, joint border initiatives, and interventions to restore constitutional order in troubled member states.

"ECOWAS has emerged as a beacon of African unity," Tinubu stated. "We overcame colonial-era divisions to forge a shared vision, uniting Anglophone, Francophone, and Lusophone nations under one cooperative umbrella."

Despite acknowledging these significant strides, the President cautioned that regional integration must move beyond policy formulation to tangible outcomes that benefit citizens across the region.

"Our greatest task is implementation. Our citizens must feel the impact of our decisions. Let us match words with action," he urged fellow leaders and stakeholders present at the commemorative event.

The 50th anniversary celebration brought together current and former leaders from across the West African region to reflect on ECOWAS's journey and chart a course for its future in an increasingly complex global landscape.