“Our young people and women who form the majority must be at the heart of ECOWAS development. We must invest deliberately in their education, entrepreneurship, healthcare and leadership. We must mentor them. Their success is the key to the future, stability, and prosperity of ECOWAS,” Tinubu said.
Tinubu described the golden jubilee as a celebration of ECOWAS’ enduring spirit of unity, resilience, and shared destiny, while urging youths to continue the work of integration of the region for the next 50 years.
He highlighted key achievements of the bloc over the past decades, including defending constitutional order, countering terrorism and financial crimes, promoting democratic governance through election monitoring, and upholding the rule of law.
On the digital front, Tinubu acknowledged that the region still faced the challenge of effectively harnessing technology for innovation and growth.
“The work of integration is never done. Each generation must carry the flame forward, lighten the path of unity and shared progress for those who come after, that is, the youths.
“Let us imagine a West Africa where no child is denied the opportunity because of where they were born or how they were born, where our borders are zones of cooperation, not conflict; where our economies thrive through joint efforts; where our people’s diverse yet bound destiny, work together towards peace, prosperity and justice.
“This golden jubilee is not merely a celebration of the past but a summon to shape the future. Let us draw strength from our history; courage from our struggles; hope from our shared potential. In our unity lies our power; in our solidarity, our success,” Tinubu said.
President Tinubu paid tribute to the founding fathers of ECOWAS, particularly General Yakubu Gowon, acknowledging their foresight in envisioning a West Africa grounded in free movement, trade, and peaceful coexistence. He commended both past and current heads of state within the regional bloc for their commitment to the principles of integration, cooperation, and solidarity, noting that their collective efforts had transformed ECOWAS into a strong force for peace, progress, and stability—one he described as a beacon of African unity.
Addressing the people of West Africa, Tinubu emphasized that the community belonged to them, stating that it was their vision that birthed it, their resilience that had sustained it, and their aspirations that would shape its future. He urged them to stand proud, asserting that the future belonged to all.