The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has unveiled its long-term vision to transform the organisation from an “ECOWAS of States” into an “ECOWAS of the People: Peace and Prosperity to All” by the year 2050.
The plan aims to empower the region’s estimated 300 million citizens to take ownership of the vision and play active roles in shaping the community’s future.
It unfolded the plan as it kicked off its 50th anniversary celebration with a series of high-level commemorative events in Lagos, Nigeria.
Held under the theme “Stronger Together for a Brighter Future,” the celebration reflects the bloc’s renewed commitment to deepening regional integration and development.
ECOWAS was established on May 28, 1975. The founding treaty was signed by 15 Heads of State and Government at the National Institute of International Affairs on Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The Treaty of Lagos was signed by the 15 Heads of State and government of Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, The
Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sénégal and Togo, with its stated mission to promote economic integration across the region.
The Senegalese President was represented by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Cabo Verde joined the union in 1977.
The only Arabic-speaking member, Mauritania withdrew in December 2000. Mauritania recently signed a new associate-membership agreement in August 2017.
ECOWAS membership has since reduced to 12 following the recent withdrawal of Burkina-Faso, Mali and Niger.
The milestone celebration according to the ECOWAS Commission, “reflects five
decades of regional cooperation, economic integration, and collective progress across West Africa.”
The day’s events is expected to commence with a symbolic Re-Enactment of the Signing of the ECOWAS Treaty by Heads of State and Government at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA),
Victoria Island, Lagos. “This historic moment will recall the community’s founding vision and recommit its leadership to a shared future,” the Commission stated.
According to the programme of events, the main 50th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony will follow at Eko Hotel and Suites, also on Victoria Island. Dignitaries, partner organizations, and invited guests from across the sub-region will gather to reflect on the achievements, challenges, and future aspirations of ECOWAS.
Rounding off the day will be a high-level roundtable discussion titled:“ECOWAS, an African Model @50: Resilience and Future Prospects.”
This forum will bring together former ECOWAS leaders at various levels to share insights, lessons learned, and perspectives on the regional body’s path forward.
As ECOWAS commemorates its Golden Jubilee, the theme “Stronger together for a Brighter Future” underscores the community’s enduring resilience and its commitment to peace, prosperity, and integration in West Africa.
ECOWAS was set up to foster the ideal of collective self-sufficiency for its member states. As a trading union, it is also meant to create a single, large trading bloc through economic cooperation.
Integrated economic activities as envisaged in the area that has a combined GDP of $734.8 billion, revolve around but are not limited to industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, natural resources, commerce, monetary and financial issues, social as well as cultural matters.
In 2007, ECOWAS Secretariat was transformed into a Commission. The Commission headed by the President, assisted by a Vice President, five Commissioners and the Auditor-General of ECOWAS Institutions, comprising experienced bureaucrats who are providing the leadership in this new orientation.
The ECOWAS budget is essentially financed by revenue collected through the Community tax. The tax was introduced to finance its activities.
The rate of the Community levy is set at 0.5% of the CIF value of goods imported from non-ECOWAS countries.
As part of this renewal process, ECOWAS is implementing critical and strategic programmes that will deepen cohesion and progressively eliminate identified barriers to full integration.
The Nation
