As part of ECOWAS 50th anniversary celebration, stakeholders have underscored the enduring commitment of West African states and citizens to the ideals of regional integration and solidarity.
The event, organised by the Permanent Representation of the ECOWAS Commission in Ivory Coast, in collaboration with the ECOWAS National Office, the celebration brought together a broad spectrum of institutional, diplomatic and public actors.
The ceremony was chaired by the Ivory Coast Minister of State, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ms Niale Kaba, calling for a more united, sovereign and forward-looking West Africa.
Ms. Kaba emphasised that the 50th anniversary “should go beyond commemoration and serve as a decisive turning point for deepening regional integration, strengthening collective sovereignty, and building a more resilient ECOWAS.”
She highlighted key regional priorities, including the ECO single currency, ECOWAS Vision 2050, and the need for coordinated responses to pressing challenges such as terrorism, transnational organized crime and democratic fragilities.
Ms. Kaba reiterated her call “for a more united, resilient and forward-looking ECOWAS, stressing that the golden jubilee should mark a new phase in the consolidation of regional integration”.
In her remarks, the Representative of the Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ms. Adjaratou Coulibaly stressed “the importance of bringing ECOWAS closer to its citizens and reinforcing a shared sense of community”.
She also noted that the commemorative tour serves as a vital bridge between ECOWAS institutions and the people, while showcasing major achievements such as the ECOWAS passport, the Common External Tariff and the early warning mechanisms.
The commemorative activities featured an urban parade and a series of cultural and community events that brought together public officials, partners, and citizens in a vibrant demonstration of unity and shared purpose.
Overall, the celebration of ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary in Yamoussoukro stands as a landmark moment of reflection, mobilisation, and renewed ambition, reaffirming our collective commitment to building an integrated, peaceful, and prosperous West Africa.
As part of this renewal process, ECOWAS is implementing critical and strategic programmes that will deepen cohesion and progressively eliminate identified barriers to full integration. In this way, the estimated 300 million citizens of the community can ultimately take ownership of the realisation of the new vision of moving from an ECOWAS of States to an “ECOWAS of the People: Peace and Prosperity to All”, by 2050.
By, Is’haq Ahmed, Abuja