Tinubu reaffirms Nigeria’s commitment to ECOWAS at 50th Anniversary celebration

By Kunle Sanni

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday reaffirmed Nigeria’s longstanding commitment to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as the regional bloc marked its 50th anniversary in Lagos.

Speaking at a commemorative event attended by regional leaders, diplomats, and civil society representatives, Tinubu praised Nigeria’s central role in the formation and growth of ECOWAS since its establishment in 1975.

“Nigeria has stood at the heart of ECOWAS since its inception,” Tinubu said. “For nearly five decades, we have remained a pillar of regional development, cooperation, and solidarity.”

The president paid special tribute to former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, one of the original signatories of the ECOWAS Treaty and the only surviving leader among its founding figures. “General Gowon helped lay the cornerstone of what has become a formidable institution for unity in West Africa,” Tinubu noted.

Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s continued contributions to regional development through initiatives like the Technical Aid Corps, which has for decades deployed skilled Nigerian professionals to ECOWAS member states.

He also cited major milestones such as the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme, joint border operations, and efforts to restore democracy in troubled nations as key successes of the bloc.

“ECOWAS has emerged as a beacon of African unity,” Tinubu declared. “We overcame colonial-era divisions to unite Anglophone, Francophone, and Lusophone nations under one vision.”

However, the president emphasized that political will must translate into tangible development, warning that “our greatest task is implementation.”