ECOWAS celebrates it’s 50th anniversary at the UN headquarters in New York
On the 25th of July 2025, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) marked its 50th anniversary with a high-level ceremony at the United Nations headquarters in New York, under the theme: “United for a better future: promoting regionalism and multilateralism for shared prosperity”.
Hosted in the prestigious ECOSOC chamber, the event brought together senior UN officials, ECOWAS leaders, diplomats, academics and international partners. It was organised by the ECOWAS Permanent Observer Mission to the UN, in close collaboration with the ECOWAS Ambassadors Group. In her opening address, Ambassador Kinza Jawara-Njai highlighted the central role of ECOWAS in promoting peace, regional unity and sustainable development. The Vice-President of the Commission, Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, praised the organisation’s evolution over the decades and reaffirmed the relevance of its Vision 2050. The keynote speech, delivered by Dr Abdel-Fatau Musah, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, focused on security challenges in West Africa. He focused on the operationalisation of the Regional Rapid Reaction Force against terrorism and the development of a Citizens’ Pact for the future of regional integration.
One of the highlights of the ceremony was the video message from General Yakubu Gowon, the last living founding father of ECOWAS, who recalled the visionary spirit that presided over the birth of the organisation in 1975. He made a vibrant appeal for unity, solidarity and the pursuit of common ideals for a stronger and more integrated West Africa.
