It is with great humility and profound respect that I stand before you today on behalf of the Chairperson and on my own behalf to honour the golden jubilee a remarkable 50-year journey of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.

This milestone is not simply a marker of time, but a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of unity, resilience, and progress that defines our West African region and shapes the broader African vision.

Allow me to begin by extending, once again, my sincere appreciation to H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, the ECOWAS Commission and the Nigerian Government for the warm hospitality shown to the African Union delegation during the celebrations held last month in Lagos.

The ceremony was not only a tribute to ECOWAS’s legacy, It was a clarion call to the future—a reaffirmation of its pivotal role in Africa’s integration journey. Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on this historic achievement, on behalf of the African Union Commission Chairperson and the entire Commission.

Fifty years ago, ECOWAS was born out of the bold imagination of visionary leaders who understood that Africa’s future would be built not through isolation, but through integration. They envisioned a region where economic sovereignty, political stability, and human dignity were not isolated aspirations, but shared imperatives. That vision remains alive today, embodied in ECOWAS—a beacon of regional unity and a cornerstone of continental progress.

Through decades marked by political transitions, economic crises, pandemics, and shifting global dynamics, ECOWAS has not faltered. It has stood its ground—sometimes against the winds of discontent, but always with resolve. It has shown us that regional organisations are not merely bureaucratic entities; they are living institutions of hope, defenders of peace, and enablers of transformation.

Indeed, ECOWAS has acted time and again as Africa’s first responder. From Liberia and Sierra Leone to Guinea-Bissau and Mali, it has taken courageous steps where silence would have been easier. Through ECOMOG and other mechanisms, ECOWAS has demonstrated not only operational capability but moral leadership—anchoring its decisions in the values of peace, justice, and dignity.

And let us be clear: ECOWAS’s role in shaping Africa’s peace and security architecture has been indispensable. Its principles—firmly grounded in zero tolerance for unconstitutional changes of government, and the promotion of good governance—have reinforced the African Union’s own commitment to democratic norms and early response.

But peace alone does not sustain societies. ECOWAS has also distinguished itself in the domain of economic integration. The free movement of persons, goods, and services; the ECOWAS passport; the biometric ID system; and the common external tariff—these are not just technical achievements. They are manifestations of a deeper political will and institutional courage to build a united market, anchored in the aspirations of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

In aligning itself with Agenda 2063, ECOWAS has signaled a profound understanding that regional progress is not separate from continental ambition. Integration is a process, not an event. It demands continuity, coordination, mainstreaming and above all, commitment.
And yet, we must not lose sight of the current realities. We are living through a moment of intense global disruption—climate change, economic inequality, security threats, and a crisis of trust in institutions. These challenges are not abstract; they affect the lives of millions across our region. But this is not a time to retreat. This is a time to rise—just as we have done before, and just as we will continue to do.

RECs, including ECOWAS, remain the building blocks of African unity. And ECOWAS, through its decades of leadership, has exemplified what is possible when unity, courage, and vision come together.

As we look forward to the next 50 years, let us imagine a West Africa and a Continent that leads with foresight, not just reaction. A community where women and youth are central to decision-making, where technology drives inclusion, and where the foundations of solidarity are stronger than ever.

At the African Union, we stand with ECOWAS—not behind, not ahead, but shoulder to shoulder. For when ECOWAS thrives, Africa advances. And when Africa advances, the world takes notice.

Let us not be defined by the challenges of our time, but by the possibilities of our united will.
Thank you.