Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has said the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) would open new frontiers for the regional bloc, urging stakeholders to renew their commitment to unity, peace, and development.
This came as former Nigerian Head of State and surviving ECOWAS founding father, General Yakubu Gowon, and former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, expressed confidence that Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—three member states that recently exited ECOWAS to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—could still return to the fold.
The remarks were made during a Roundtable Conference themed: “ECOWAS, An African Model @ 50: Resilience and Future Prospects,” held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos. The event, part of the golden jubilee celebrations, was chaired by Gen. Gowon, with Prof. Akinyemi as keynote speaker.
Other high-level participants included ECOWAS President Dr. Alieu Touray, former ECOWAS President Dr. Ibn Chambas, former Guinea Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate, and African Union Commission Vice Chairperson Selma Malika Haddadi.
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu hailed the legacy of ECOWAS and praised the enduring relevance of its visionaries:
“Over the course of our discussions, we have been afforded a unique opportunity to reflect on the remarkable journey of ECOWAS as a regional body. We have examined its significant contributions to peacekeeping, economic integration, harmonization of sectoral policies and promotion of democratic governance to strengthen regional solidarity.”
She further noted:
“Equally important, this forum granted us the opportunity to critically examine the pressing challenges confronting the Community, from political instability and governance deficits to economic disparities. Looking ahead, this rich exchange of ideas and perspectives we have shared today has laid the groundwork for charting a more resilient, inclusive and visionary path for ECOWAS.”
“As we bring this important gathering to a close, allow me to express my sincere appreciation to each and every one of you for your presence, your thoughtful contributions and insights, as well as your unwavering commitments to the vision and ideals that inspired the founding of our Regional Economic Community five decades ago.”
In his keynote, Prof. Akinyemi highlighted ECOWAS’s role in fostering regional peace, integration, and mobility. He called for compassion toward the Sahel countries that left the bloc:
“When the Sahel countries realize that in pulling out of ECOWAS, they were not able to contain the Jihadists, the insecurity in the region, then they will know that pulling out was not the solution. When they see that the energy crisis is still there and other challenges they faced, then, they will begin to consider the essence of regional integration.”
“So, I share the optimism expressed this morning by our President and Gen. Gowon, that they will find their way back. And as Gen. Gowon advised, we should treat them with compassion, we shouldn’t rub it on their face.”
ECOWAS President Dr. Alieu Touray emphasized the central role of the withdrawn states to regional security and integration:
“We are thinking of a summit on the future of ECOWAS. We must mainstream the need for poverty alleviation. Secondly, is working together on how to confront insecurity. The disunity in the region threatens our security.”
“Peace and security must be of priority to ECOWAS. Governance too must be a priority to ECOWAS, accountability. If you have good governance, you have development. To boost intra community trade, we must address infrastructure.”
Adding to the sentiments, UN Special Representative for ECOWAS and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simão, commended ECOWAS for its diplomatic handling of the Sahel states’ exit:
“I must tell you that I was in Niger last week and I know how they received that move. This is an achievement that only a mature organisation can pull through.”
“As UN, we congratulate ECOWAS on its 50th anniversary and would continue to look out for collaborations.”
Magnus Eze
Special Assistant on Communication and New Media
Office of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Abuja
