…Seeks Recommitment Of Member States
The President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Omar Alieu Touray has said that the regional body is stronger together as a community.
He also urged member states to recommit themselves to strengthening the regional body.
Touray, in his welcome address during the celebration of the 50 years anniversary of the Commission in Lagos on Wednesday, outlined the various achievements recorded as a body.
He said, “In these five decades, our Community has made remarkable strides: Infrastructure, linking our capitals and markets. We have facilitated free movement across borders, allowing our people to travel, built a single currency, built a regional electricity market, extended digital trade, and connected without barriers. We have advanced intra-regional trade, implemented a Common External Tariff, and developed critical regional connectivity across borders.
“We have stood together in the face of epidemics, insecurity, and natural disasters, democracy, dispatched election observation missions, and invested in our most valuable resource, our people, by promoting Gender Equality, youth empowerment, and human capital development.
“We have upheld offering humanitarian support and strengthening healthcare and food systems. Dispatched election observation missions and deployed our Standby Force in defence of peace and regional stability.”
According to him, despite the challenges of terrorism, climate change, and unconstitutional changes of government, the strength lies in unity among member states.
“As I have often said, ECOWAS is better and stronger together as a Community. Our community faces today terrorism, climate change, unconstitutional changes of government, strength lies in our unity, in our shared identity, and in the spirit of solidarity that is the building blocks of a future that we must continue to shape together. The challenges define our Union
“This 50th Anniversary is not only a moment for celebration, but it’s also a moment for introspection, recalibration, and recommitment. Let’s recommit to an ECOWAS of the People where peace, prosperity, and justice are not just ideals, but lived realities.
“Let’s recommit to deepening integration, to building inclusive economies, and to advancing introspection, recalibration, and recommitment. Let’s recommit to an ECOWAS of the African Continental Free Trade Area through regional leadership.
“Let’s recommit to fostering democracy and good governance, and to defending the rights and dignity of every West African citizen. As we look to the next fifty years, let us dream boldly and act courageously.
“The future of ECOWAS must be brighter, greener, more inclusive, and more secure. It must be anchored in innovation, in sustainability, and in the unwavering belief that we’re indeed stronger together. “To our founding fathers, we say thank you. To our Member States, institutions, partners, and citizens, we say: the journey continues. Together, we will build the ECOWAS of tomorrow, an ECOWAS of Peace and Prosperity for All.”
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