29th May, 2025
News desk
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on West African leaders to place youth mentorship and empowerment at the forefront of regional development, emphasizing that the future stability and prosperity of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) depends on it.
Speaking in his capacity as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Tinubu made the appeal on Wednesday during a high-level ceremony in Lagos commemorating the 50th anniversary of ECOWAS’ founding.
The event brought together several regional leaders, including President Joseph Nyuma Boakai of Liberia; Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové, President of Togo; President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau; President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray; and Nigeria’s former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, who played a key role in the establishment of ECOWAS in 1975.
In his keynote address, Tinubu stressed the need for strategic investments in education, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and leadership development targeted at the youth and women, who he described as the “majority” in the region.
“Our young people and women must be at the heart of ECOWAS’ development. We must invest deliberately in their future. Their success is key to the peace, stability, and progress of West Africa,” Tinubu said.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to the regional bloc, Tinubu pledged to mentor the next generation of leaders and ensure the transmission of “a banner without stain” to West African youth, invoking a line from Nigeria’s national anthem.
Reflecting on the five decades since the ECOWAS Treaty was signed on May 28, 1975, Tinubu described the golden jubilee as a celebration of the region’s unity, resilience, and shared aspirations. He urged the youth to embrace the task of deepening regional integration over the next 50 years.
“The work of integration is never done. Each generation must carry the flame forward,” Tinubu said. “Let us imagine a West Africa where no child is denied opportunity due to birthplace or background, where borders foster cooperation, and where diverse nations unite for peace and prosperity.”
Tinubu also acknowledged the region’s ongoing struggle to harness digital technology effectively and called for a renewed push toward innovation and inclusive growth.
Highlighting ECOWAS’ past achievements, Tinubu cited the bloc’s role in promoting democracy, defending constitutional order, combating terrorism and financial crimes, and advancing the rule of law.
He paid special tribute to the founding fathers of ECOWAS, particularly Gen. Yakubu Gowon, for their vision of a united West Africa built on free movement, trade, and peaceful coexistence.
“I salute past and present heads of state for upholding the values of integration, cooperation, and solidarity. ECOWAS has become a formidable force for peace, progress, and stability—a beacon of African unity,” Tinubu said.
He concluded with a message to the citizens of West Africa: “This is your community. Your resilience sustained it. Your dreams will shape its future. The future belongs to us all.”
