President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged ECOWAS leaders to stop making promises and start taking real action that benefits the people, especially young people and women.
Speaking on Wednesday in Lagos at ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary celebration, Tinubu, who is the current chairman of ECOWAS, said the regional body has made progress in trade, peacekeeping, and unity.
However, he stressed that more needs to be done.
“We are lagging behind on implementation.
“Let our citizens feel the real impact of our shared efforts,” he said.
He called on leaders to support the youth and women by giving them opportunities in education, business, and leadership.
“We must mentor them. Their success is the key to the future. We want to hand a banner without stain to you, the youth of West Africa,” Tinubu said.
Tinubu also honoured former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd.), the only surviving founder of ECOWAS, and praised the early leaders of the organisation.
He said ECOWAS had made progress by bringing together English, French, and Portuguese-speaking countries and allowing free movement across borders but challenges like insecurity, food shortages, and poor implementation of plans remain.
“Our biggest challenge now is implementation. The work of unity must continue,” Tinubu said.
He promised that Nigeria will continue to support other West African countries through programmes like the Technical Aid Corps, which sends skilled professionals to help in member states.
Tinubu also showed support for new ECOWAS projects, like the Infrastructure Master Plan and the Ecogo digital platform, aimed at modernising the region.
He stated, “Let us imagine a West Africa where our economies thrive through joint effort… where our people, diverse yet bound by destiny, work together towards peace, prosperity and justice.”
