President Joseph Nyuma Boakai of Liberia participated in a significant event on May 28, 2025, joining other West African leaders in Lagos, Nigeria. The gathering marked the signing of a declaration celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This event reaffirmed their dedication to the organization’s founding principles and future goals.
The Heads of State and Government met in Lagos, where ECOWAS was founded in 1975, to celebrate five decades of regional collaboration. They endorsed a renewed vision for integration and sustainable development under ECOWAS Vision 2050.
In their declaration, the leaders committed to maintaining peace, security, democratic governance, and the rule of law. They pledged to enhance economic integration, trade, and regional connectivity. Additionally, they called for unified efforts to tackle challenges such as terrorism, violent extremism, climate change, and youth unemployment. The leaders also encouraged active contributions from citizens, civil society groups, youth and women’s organizations, the private sector, and traditional leaders toward building an “ECOWAS of the People.”
President Boakai emphasized Liberia’s commitment to ECOWAS by stating: “Regional solidarity is the backbone of West Africa’s stability and development. We stand united with our neighbors to deepen cooperation, safeguard democratic values, and secure a prosperous future for our people.”
He commended ECOWAS’s achievements over its fifty-year history—especially its role in conflict resolution and democratic transitions—and stressed collective action’s importance in addressing current issues.
The signing ceremony occurred at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Victoria Island—a venue that holds historical significance as it hosted ECOWAS’s founding treaty signing on May 28, 1975. General Yakubu Gowon attended as he is the only surviving founding father of ECOWAS.
The declaration was signed by member states including Liberia among others like Nigeria, Ghana Côte d’Ivoire Senegal Sierra Leone Guinea Guinea-Bissau The Gambia Togo Benin Cabo Verde among others using English French Portuguese—the three official languages of ECOWAS.
This Golden Jubilee serves both as a time for reflection and an impetus for action as ECOWAS embarks on a new era guided by Vision 2050—a comprehensive plan aimed at fostering a peaceful prosperous people-centered West Africa.