Delegates from across West Africa gathered at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos on Tuesday for the continuation of the ECOWAS @50 celebrations, marking five decades of regional integration and cooperation.
Nigeria’s President and current Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, led the commemorative events. Joining him were key leaders from the sub-region, including General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd), the only surviving founding Head of State who signed the 1975 Lagos Treaty that established the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The Lagos celebration follows the official flag-off of the golden jubilee held in Accra, Ghana, in April 2025.
Earlier in the day, events took place at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Victoria Island, Lagos, where the historical significance of ECOWAS’s founding was revisited. Attendees later reconvened at Eko Hotel for the main anniversary ceremony.
According to a statement released by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu is expected to deliver a keynote address at the event, highlighting ECOWAS’s achievements and strategic role in regional development.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, is billed to deliver the welcome address, while Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Chairman of the NIIA Governing Council and former Minister of External Affairs, will present a retrospective review of ECOWAS’s 50-year journey.
General Gowon is also scheduled to deliver a speech reflecting on the founding vision of ECOWAS and its relevance today.
The Lagos gathering is a continuation of a series of events designed to reflect on the bloc’s progress, assess its challenges, and recommit to deeper integration and regional peace.
