Abuja: The establishment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on May 28, 1975, under the auspices of Treaty of Lagos, marked a new regional chapter and charter. By virtue of the Treaty of Lagos, ECOWAS, comprising 16 West African countries at inception, became Africa’s pioneer Regional Economic Community (REC).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the founding countries of ECOWAS include Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Mauritania, and Togo. However, Mauritania formally withdrew from the bloc in 2000, bringing the number of countries to 15. The Treaty of Lagos aims at promoting economic cooperation and integration among the ECOWAS member states with a focus on achieving collective self-sufficiency and improving the citizens’ standard of living.
Recently, at an event organised by ECOWAS and hosted by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) to commemorate ECOWAS at 50, its founding fathers, regional and sub-regional leaders, as well as diplomats, underscored the need for continuous growth in strength, unity, and purpose of the community. The stakeholders prayed for ECOWAS to march towards peace, prosperity, and progress in the spirit of 1975 cooperation, solidarity, and hope that has never been forgotten.
They recounted significant progress the community made in terms of implementation of policies and programmes, protocols, and operations to stabilise entities such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea Bissau. More so, they identified other achievements to include trade liberalisation, introduction of policies to reduce trade barriers, and promotion of intra-regional trade, thus increasing trade among member states and helping to promote economic growth and development. Regrettably, they noted that the community failed in achieving a common currency.
Observers say the community still faces security challenges such as terrorism, kidnapping, criminal activities, and various activities of man’s inhumanity to man. According to stakeholders, the recent withdrawal by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)-Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger-from the community poses great concern to ECOWAS as it marks 50 years of existence. Speaking during the ceremony, a former Head of State, retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, said ECOWAS had evolved into a cornerstone of regional stability and a powerful emblem of African resilience and unity.
President Bola Tinubu, Chairman of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, in a keynote address, stressed the need for West African leaders to sustain the legacies of ECOWAS’s founding fathers. He urged the leaders to continue to look beyond artificial borders created by colonialists and embrace one another as a family. Tinubu said that the founding fathers foresaw a more united, harmonious, and purpose-driven regional bloc that would benefit many generations.
Mr Mahmoud Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), extolled ECOWAS for acting decisively as a guardian of peace and builder of dialogue amidst regional challenges. Pioneer President of ECOWAS Commission, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, expressed confidence that ECOWAS under Tinubu’s leadership would continue to reawaken the community’s ideals and principles.
The Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN) hailed ECOWAS for its resilience and notable achievements recorded over the past 50 years amidst numerous challenges. According to ARCAN’s National President, Amb. Joe Keshi (OON), the 2021 African Integration Report ranked ECOWAS as the best performing among Africa’s eight RECs.
Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of ECOWAS Council of Ministers, reiterated that the bloc would continue to lead as a model among Africa’s regional economic communities. Amb. Kalilou Traore, Ambassador of C´te d’Ivoire to Nigeria, said ECOWAS at 50 marked a big moment to celebrate what the community had done so far.
All in all, stakeholders agree that ECOWAS member states should continue to work closely in order to break the chains of underdevelopment and lay the foundation for a self-sustaining, prosperous region. They say synergy is required in fostering economic integration, strengthening political and diplomatic cooperation, as well as promoting peace and security in the region.