Reflection on the fiftieth anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is underway at a conference in Abuja, Nigeria. Organized by the Amandla Institute and the ECOWAS Commission, this two-day event provides a platform for discussing the achievements, challenges, and future prospects of ECOWAS.
The conference aims to evaluate progress made by ECOWAS and to explore strategies for enhancing cooperation among member states. It also seeks to promote economic development, regional integration, and stability in West Africa. Participants are examining the impact of ECOWAS on citizens’ lives and considering future steps for the organization.
Speakers at the opening ceremony highlighted ECOWAS’s growth over its 50-year history. Dr. J. Kayode Fayemi, former Governor of Ekiti State, Nigeria, and co-founder of the Amandla Institute, noted that despite challenges like funding issues, “ECOWAS has long been the engine of African regional integration.”
H.E Dr Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, called for reflection on five decades of integration efforts amid current challenges such as member state withdrawals and Sahel insecurity. He announced an upcoming summit on West Africa’s future to discuss themes relevant to achieving ECOWAS Vision 2050.
Dr Touray emphasized that this conference aligns with summit goals: “Let this conference serve as a compass… May our dialogue be bold… May this meeting inspire us to renew our commitment.”
General Yakubu Gowon, former Nigerian President and founding father of ECOWAS, recounted conditions leading to its establishment in 1975 alongside co-founder General Gnassingbé Eyadéma from Togo. Gowon reiterated ECOWAS’s ambition to enhance cooperation and stimulate economic growth.
The meeting includes former Executive Secretaries and Presidents of the ECOWAS Commission such as Dr Lansana Kouyaté and Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo. Other notable participants include Professor Abdoulaye Bathily from Senegal; Dr Ernest Bai Koroma, former President of Sierra Leone; Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah; and Abdou Kolley.