President Bola Tinubu has urged leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to prioritise addressing poverty and high unemployment among youth.
He also called for greater investment in education, innovation, and skill acquisition to foster peace and social inclusion.
Tinubu made these remarks on Tuesday during the inauguration of the ECOWAS Golden Jubilee in Accra, Ghana, where he was represented by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
In his speech, Tinubu commended ECOWAS for its 50 years of progress, unity, and resilience, noting that the vision set by its founding fathers in 1975 had come to fruition.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in a statement issued by Magnus Eze, the Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, emphasised that the Golden Jubilee celebration served as a reflection on the region’s solidarity.
Tinubu also recognised the leadership of Ghana’s former President, John Mahama, commending his commitment to regional integration and democratic governance.
He described Ghana as a beacon of progress and solidarity under Mahama’s stewardship.
Tinubu highlighted the significant achievements of ECOWAS over the past five decades, particularly in peacekeeping, promoting democratic governance, and advancing regional economic integration.
He recalled the challenges the region had faced, including political instability, economic hardships, and security threats, but reaffirmed the commitment to a united and prosperous West Africa.
The President also stressed that while the region had made notable progress, urgent issues such as poverty, poor access to education, youth unemployment, and security threats, including violent extremism and climate change, must be addressed.
He emphasised that the future of West Africa lied in investing in the youth, expanding democratic norms, and accelerating economic cooperation, especially through initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
As current Chair of ECOWAS, Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the core principles of democracy, good governance, and regional solidarity.
He called for the deepening of integration, including the realisation of a single currency and strengthened infrastructure to better connect markets.
Tinubu also urged the region to embrace a new era of reforms, ensuring that ECOWAS remained inclusive, responsive, and capable of meeting the challenges of today and tomorrow.
He ended by urging unity and committed Nigeria to working with all member states to strengthen and build a more resilient ECOWAS.
