Nigeria’s former military head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has shed light on the birth of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), tracing its origin to a conversation he had with the late Togolese leader, General Gnassingbé Eyadema, in the aftermath of Nigeria’s civil war.

Gowon made the revelation in Lagos during the 50th anniversary celebration of ECOWAS, held on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs on Kofo Abayomi Street, the same venue where the historic treaty establishing the regional bloc was signed by leaders of 15 West African nations on May 28, 1975.

The former Head of State, who remains the only living founding father of ECOWAS, recalled that the idea emerged during his visits across the sub-region to thank countries for their support and understanding during Nigeria’s civil war.

It was in the course of those diplomatic engagements, he said, that the vision for a united West African economic community began to take shape.

He said, “The idea started soon after the civil war, when I went on a thank you visit to member States to thank them for their understanding and support, and was also engaged in entering into, similar bilateral agreement, with each President and Heads of State of the region then. But with General Gnassingbé Eyadema of Togo, we further discussed extending the idea beyond the bilateral level, to what is happening in some parts of the world e.g, in Europe, EEC, later EU, ECA in East Africa, Africa and Caribbean organization.

“We both agreed to get to work at it and got our respective Ministers of Economic and External Affairs to produce a working document for consideration. Prof. Bayo Adedeji and Dr. Arikpo from Nigeria and Mr. Edem Kodjo and another from Togo and their staff set to work, getting other member States involved to produce a working document for consideration.

“Meanwhile, between me and President Eyadema, we were in constant contact with our other colleagues, English and French speaking President and Heads of States, to get their firm commitment to it and subsequently we succeeded to have the ECOWAS programme launched on 28th May, 1975 in Lagos as Lagos Treaty.”

He explained, “The Treaty of Lagos primary aim and objective is to promote Economic Co-operation and integration between and among the member States, focusing on achieving collective self-sufficiency and improving the citizens standard of living – the call for ECOWAS Community of the people not only for its leadership.”

Gowon said ECOWAS has made significant progress since then.

He noted that the regional body has implemented various policies and programmes, protocols and operations to stabilize entities such as Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau.

He said they have achieved “Trade Liberalization”, by introducing policies to reduce trade barriers and promoting intra-regional trade, thus increasing trade among member State and helping to promote economic growth and development.”

He lamented that despite some of the achievements, the bloc has however fallen short in certain areas.

He stressed that the regional body is still faced with some formidable challenges such as security issues like terrorism, kidnapping, various criminal activities and various ‘activity of man’s inhumanity to man’.

He also expressed his sadness over the withdrawal of the three African states-Burkina-Faso, Mali and Niger.

“ECOWAS was hopefully looking forward to a trouble-free peaceful golden jubilee this year, then the bombshell from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) – Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, withdrawing from the Community. This came as a great concern to the Community which curtailed its 50 years of existence. It is sad that the Community is Celebrating its Jubilee short of the 50 years as a full original membership.”

“Although ECOWAS had to reluctantly let them go as they decided, it is commendable of the Commission still leaving the door of the stable open and also consider giving the group (AES) to be joint partner and for ECOWAS now to be ECOWASS – ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (and) SAHEL. It is still to maintain its original name and purpose.”

He however said despite the plight, there is reason to celebrate the milestone.

“But it is 50 years of the majority members of the Community and they should be duly Celebrated and let us say “happy golden jubilee, ecowas”, he said.