Over the course of the last 36 hours, I have had the honour of meeting His Excellency Rtd. General Yakubu Gowan, former Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (in warm handshake). The soft -spoken and humourous former head of state was chairing a High – Level Conference from June 24 -25, to mark the Golden Jubilee of the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS).
Together with President Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo, President Gowan led the efforts that culminated in the signing of the May 28 Treaty of Lagos in 1975, which essentially established what became known as ECOWAS.
The nonagenarian and only surviving founding leader of ECOWAS, surprisingly alert as a sentinel and sharp as a razor, took his audience down memory lane on the motivations, processes, manauvers, concessions, and the phases that resulted in Africa’s boldest attempt at economic integration. His astuteness apart, Gowan’s energy, discipline, and evergreen commitment to the ECOWAS project, were as awesome as they were insightful and inspiring. This was attested by the fact that he actively participated in the over eight hours deliberations (from 0900hrs – 1730hrs).
His Excellency Ernest Bai Koroma, former President of the Republic of Sierra Leone (2007-2018), also shared rich insights on ECOWAS’s journey so far, and how it should proceed into the next chapter of its history.
Although the conference was held under non-attributable regulations, we had quite impactful two long days at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria. This was due to the calibre of the carefully selected participants.
They include four of ECOWAS’s former Executive Secretaries including Sierra Leone’s Dr Abass Chernor Bundu (1989 -1993), who spearheaded the Community’s military intervention to end the civil war in Liberia; Guinea’s Lansana Kouyaté (September 1997 – January 31, 2002); Ghan’s Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas (who served for two terms from February 1, 2002 – December 31, 2006 and from
January 1, 2007 – February 18, 2010); and former Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, Dr Kadré Désiré Ouedraogo, who served as President of the ECOWAS Commission (2012 to 2016), following the designation changed from Executive Secretary).
The current President of the Commission, Dr Alieu Omar Toure, along with his Commisioner, current and past officers of the Commission for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, were among many other eminent scholars, media and civil society lesders in attendance.
Faced with probably one of the most difficult challenges to its ideals – the withdrawal of three of its founding member states – Niger, Mali, and Burkinafaso, as well as the suspension of Guinea (Conakry) – it had become absolutely imperative that after five decades of its existence, a deep introspection be undertaken to assess how well or badly the ECOWAS project has fared on.
Accordingly, the Conference’s objectives included a review of the regional Bloc’s progress and regression. It further sets out to chart the way forward on how to make ECOWAS stronger, more cohesive, and more prosperous over the next 50 years.
The event was held under the auspices of the ECOWAS Commission, in collaboration with the #Amandla Institute For Policy and Leadership Advancement. 
The Institute is co-founded by one of Nigeria’s foremost civil society activists and politicians – His Excellency Dr Kayode Fayemi (CON), former Governor of Ikiti State, and his wife, Mrs Bisi Adeleye- Fayemi.
The Amandla Institute sets itself the goal to “drive bold initiatives in harnessing leadership and policy for the transformation of the African continent and the progress of global Africa.”In its Mission Statement, the Amandla Institute asserts, among other things, that “In pursuit of its commitment to unlock the leadership acumen of Africa and its diaspora to…. safeguard citizen freedom and dignity and propel an agenda of rapid and sustainable transformation, the Amanda Institute produces policy reports, convenes high level policy dialogues,…..relevant to the leadership-policy interface in Africa.”
Thi two-day high-level conference the Institute organised in collaboration with ECOWAS could not have been more eloquent in it’s affirmation of such an illustrious Mission.
#Amandla Institute
#Kadre Desire Oudrego
#CEDEAO
Office of Ernest Bai Koroma, Former President of Sierra Leone 2007-2018
