High-Level Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of ECOWAS.
“Stronger Together for a Brighter Future – Advancing Regionalism and Multilateralism for Shared Prosperity.”
BY H.E. DR. MICHAEL IMRAN KANU
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations, and Chair of the ECOWAS Group of Ambassadors at the United Nations
Deputy Secretary-General,
President of the ECOWAS Commission,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
It is an honour and a privilege to welcome you to this High-Level Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, under the theme: “Stronger Together for a Brighter Future – Advancing Regionalism and Multilateralism for Shared Prosperity.”
I do so on behalf of the Chair of the ECOWAS Authority, H.E. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
Excellencies, dear Friends of ECOWAS,
50 years ago, our founding leaders envisioned a region united by shared geography, common purpose, and the aspiration for peace and prosperity. Today, we gather not only to reflect on that legacy but to recommit to a future shaped by regional solidarity and global partnership.
ECOWAS has stood as a cornerstone of regional integration in Africa, with landmark achievements in free movement of persons, regional trade, peacekeeping deployments, and early warning systems for conflict prevention. From the successful restoration of constitutional order in member states, to bold interventions during public health crises and the promotion of regional economic integration, ECOWAS continues to show what African-led solutions can achieve.
Yet, as underscored by H.E. President Julius Maada Bio, after his election as Chair of the ECOWAS Authority, our region remains at a crossroads. Security challenges, democratic relapses, economic vulnerabilities, and the growing impacts of climate change demand urgent, collective action. H.E. President Bio’s vision, anchored in restoring constitutional order, revitalizing regional security cooperation, unlocking economic integration, and strengthening institutional credibility, offers a clear and forward-looking roadmap.
As we mark this Golden Jubilee at the United Nations, the bastion of multilateralism, it is fitting that we reaffirm ECOWAS’s commitment to regionalism that serves people, fosters peace, and builds resilience. Our collaboration with the UN system and global partners will remain vital in translating vision into results.
Let us therefore use this moment not simply to commemorate the past, but to shape a bold, united, and people-centered future for West Africa.
I thank you.
Photos courtesy of UN web tv