President’s message for the 51st anniversary of ECOWAS
On the occasion of the 51st Anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), I extend warm congratulations to all Member States, development partners, private sector actors, and the people of West Africa whose enduring commitment continues to advance the ideals of regional integration and shared prosperity across our region.
This year’s theme, “Building Today the ECOWAS of the Future,” aptly reflects our collective responsibility to work towards a more resilient, and prosperous West Africa. Over the past fifty-one years, ECOWAS has made significant progress in promoting peace, economic cooperation, and regional integration, and today stands among Africa’s foremost regional economic communities, representing a market of about 420 million people and a combined economy exceeding USD 800 billion.
The ECOWAS sub-region continues to demonstrate that regional integration is not merely a political aspiration, but a practical instrument for economic transformation and sustainable development. Trade remains central to this objective, driving industrialization, job creation, food security, and economic empowerment. Yet, despite the region’s vast potential in agriculture, manufacturing, energy, transport, financial services, and the digital economy, intra-African trade still accounts for only about 15 -16 % of the continent’s total trade. This underscores the urgent need to strengthen regional value chains, remove trade barriers, and expand investment in productive sectors.
The future of West Africa will depend on our ability to trade more with one another, transform our resources locally, support small and medium-sized enterprises, and create opportunities for our growing youth population. In this regard, the African Continental Free Trade Area presents a historic opportunity to position ECOWAS as a stronger and more competitive economic hub.
As the development finance institution of ECOWAS, EBID remains firmly committed to financing transformative projects that deepen regional integration, facilitate trade, strengthen infrastructure, and promote sustainable economic development across the Community.
On this important occasion, I call upon Member States, regional institutions, the private sector, and citizens of the Community to renew their commitment to the ideals of unity, solidarity, and economic cooperation that continue to guide the ECOWAS vision.
In the words of former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan: “More than ever before in human history, we share a common destiny. We can master it only if we face it together.”
Long live ECOWAS!
Long live EBID!
