President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to depart Abuja on Tuesday for Lagos, where he will participate in the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
This milestone event marks five decades of regional cooperation and unity and is being observed by member states across West Africa.
The Lagos leg of the golden jubilee celebration comes on the heels of the initial commemorative activities that were launched in Accra, Ghana, earlier in April. President Tinubu, who also serves as the current Chairman of ECOWAS, will join other leaders and dignitaries in highlighting the progress and enduring relevance of the regional bloc.
A statement released by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, and shared on X (formerly Twitter), outlined the activities scheduled for the Lagos event. Among them is a symbolic reenactment of the original 1975 ECOWAS declaration. This is set to take place at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) located in Victoria Island.
During the commemoration at Eko Hotels and Suites, President Tinubu will present an address focusing on ECOWAS’s milestones over the past fifty years. Former Minister of External Affairs and Chairman of the NIIA, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, will offer a comprehensive review of the bloc’s evolution. His insights will set the stage for a panel discussion that delves deeper into ECOWAS’s journey and its future trajectory.
Also noteworthy is the participation of retired General Yakubu Gowon, the only surviving Head of State among the original signatories of the 1975 ECOWAS declaration. General Gowon is scheduled to take part in all the planned ceremonies and deliver a special address at the main event.
Dr. Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, is expected to open the proceedings with a welcome address, reflecting on the organization’s current role and ambitions.
In addition to the ECOWAS events, President Tinubu will also oversee several project inaugurations during his time in Lagos. On Saturday, May 31, he is expected to commission a number of key infrastructure developments, including Section I of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Lekki Deep Sea Port Tax Credit Concrete Road. He will also flag off Section II of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and inaugurate the 7th Axial Road.
Moreover, the President will remotely commission the Kano-Kanwar-Danja-Hadejiya Section II Road and the Yakasai-Zalli Road. He will also virtually flag off work on the Kano Northern By-pass and several road sections in Zaria, Hunkuyi, Dabai, Kafur, Malumfashi, and Dayi.
President Tinubu will conclude his Lagos visit by observing the Eid-el-Kabir prayers at the State House in Dodan Barracks before returning to Abuja.
What you should know
President Bola Tinubu will celebrate ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary in Lagos, reenacting the 1975 founding declaration alongside dignitaries and General Yakubu Gowon.
As Chairman of ECOWAS, Tinubu will deliver a keynote address reflecting on the bloc’s achievements.
During his stay, he’ll also commission major infrastructure projects and observe Eid prayers before returning to Abuja.
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