ECOWAS at 50: Tinubu Hails Regional Unity as Celebrations Launch

President Bola Tinubu has commended the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for its enduring role in advancing regional integration. Represented by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, Tinubu delivered his remarks on Tuesday in Accra, Ghana, during the launch of a series of events marking ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary.

Speaking in his capacity as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Tinubu highlighted the organisation’s enduring commitment to the vision of its founding fathers. He described ECOWAS as a “beacon of hope” for the region’s more than 400 million people.

“Today, we celebrate numerous remarkable achievements that have distinguished ECOWAS as the most successful regional economic community on the African continent,” Tinubu stated. “Over five decades, we have built one of Africa’s most dynamic free trade areas, enhancing intra-regional commerce and lifting millions out of poverty.”

Acknowledging the progress, President Tinubu also reflected on the challenges ECOWAS has faced, including political instability, economic difficulties, infrastructure deficits, and persistent security threats.

“Despite our collective vision, far too many of our citizens still live in poverty. Too many children lack access to quality education, and too many of our youth are unemployed or forced to seek opportunities abroad,” he noted.

He called on ECOWAS member states to reconceive the bloc as a “Community of People” rather than merely a “Community of States,” emphasizing the need for investment in education, innovation, and skills development to unlock the region’s potential. Tinubu also urged deeper economic cooperation and greater support for intra-regional trade, underscoring the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a tool for transformative growth.

Former Ghanaian President John Mahama echoed Tinubu’s sentiments, urging ECOWAS to remain responsive to the aspirations of its people. “Our citizens must feel that ECOWAS is more than a bureaucracy—it must be a living institution that reflects their hopes,” he said.

In a show of commitment to education, Mahama announced Ghana would offer 1,000 university scholarships to students across the ECOWAS region.

The event also featured the unveiling of ECOWAS’s official Golden Jubilee logo and theme, launching a year-long series of celebrations to commemorate the organisation’s 50 years of regional impact.