Tinubu Urges Focus on Youth Empowerment and Regional Unity as ECOWAS Marks 50th Anniversary

At the ECOWAS 50th anniversary celebration in Accra, Ghana, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu urged West African leaders to focus on tackling poverty, joblessness, and inequality in the region.

Represented by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, President Tinubu called for greater investment in education, innovation, and skills to unlock the potential of young people across the region.

In a statement shared by the minister’s media aide, Magnus Eze, Tinubu highlighted the significant progress the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has made since its founding on May 28, 1975. He noted that the 50th anniversary is a time to reflect on shared achievements in regional unity, peacekeeping, and economic development.

“We celebrate remarkable achievements that show ECOWAS is one of Africa’s most successful regional communities,” the president’s speech read. “We’ve established a vibrant free trade area, created the ECOWAS passport to support free movement, and helped resolve conflicts through ECOMOG.”

Tinubu also praised the role of the ECOWAS Commission in promoting peace and democratic governance, and he thanked Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama for his leadership in advancing regional cooperation.

Despite the achievements, Tinubu warned that many challenges still remain. He stressed that millions of West Africans are still affected by poverty, limited access to education, and high unemployment rates.

He also raised concern about new threats such as terrorism, climate change, and food insecurity, which continue to slow development in the region.

“Too many of our people live in poverty, too many children don’t have access to good education, and many of our youths are jobless or forced to migrate in search of better opportunities,” Tinubu said.

The Nigerian leader, who currently serves as ECOWAS Chair, strongly condemned unconstitutional changes in government across the region. He said such actions endanger the democratic progress made over the past decades and must be discouraged.

To help solve these problems, Tinubu encouraged member states to embrace reforms that would make ECOWAS stronger and more responsive to the needs of its citizens. He recommended more cooperation in areas like trade, infrastructure, and the long-discussed single currency.

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“As Chair of ECOWAS, I reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to democracy, rule of law, and regional unity. These values are the foundation for development and the dignity of our people,” he said.

He urged leaders to view ECOWAS not just as a union of governments, but as a “Community of People,” where young people are placed at the center of development efforts. He called for more funding and support for education, technology, and skills training.

“We must invest in our dynamic and creative youth. We must expand democracy and limit the influence of unconstitutional regimes,” he added.

Tinubu also addressed the recent withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso from ECOWAS. These military-led countries, now united under the new Alliance of Sahel States, officially left the bloc in January 2025.

In his closing remarks, Tinubu emphasized the need for dialogue and reconciliation. He said ECOWAS remains open to engaging with the three countries to encourage their return and rebuild unity.

“Let us use this Jubilee to renew our commitment to Pan-Africanism and build an ECOWAS that is stronger, more inclusive, and better prepared for the future,” he said. “We must stay open to constructive conversations with our estranged brothers.”

During the two-day meeting in Ghana, ECOWAS agreed to set up a framework for talks with Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. The bloc said it is working on peaceful solutions that address both the reasons for the withdrawal and the shared goals of the region.

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