President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), is scheduled to formally declare open the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the regional bloc in Lagos State.
The commemorative events will commence at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos, at 11:00 a.m., before moving to Eko Hotel and Suites for subsequent activities.
Among the early dignitaries to arrive for the Golden Jubilee ceremony is the President of Liberia, Joseph Boakai.
As the head of the regional bloc, President Tinubu is expected to use the occasion to highlight key milestones and achievements of ECOWAS over the past five decades.
One of the highlights of the day’s programme is the symbolic re-enactment of the 1975 founding declaration, which will take place at the NIIA.
Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Chairman of the NIIA and former Minister of External Affairs, will deliver a reflective address reviewing ECOWAS’s 50-year trajectory. A panel of experts will subsequently discuss the progress and challenges encountered by the regional body.
Retired General Yakubu Gowon, the only surviving Head of State who signed the original ECOWAS declaration, is also expected to participate fully in the celebrations and deliver a keynote address at Eko Hotels.
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Dr Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, will deliver the welcome address.
It will be recalled that the official launch of the ECOWAS Golden Jubilee took place on 22 April 2025 in Accra, Ghana.
The launch ceremony brought together representatives from all ECOWAS Member States, high-ranking government officials, regional leaders, and members of the diplomatic corps. Also in attendance were delegates from the African Union, the United Nations, and various multilateral organisations.
The anniversary marks the beginning of a year-long commemoration of five decades of regional cooperation, integration, and socio-economic progress.
