ABUJA – As the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) celebrates its 50th anniversary, regional leaders and scholars are urging a fundamental shift towards citizen-driven reforms to address crises of democracy and security.
The calls were made at a public debate in Abuja titled “Future-Proofing Regional Integration in Africa.” Key figures warned that the bloc, founded in 1975, risks becoming irrelevant if it remains an “elite club” detached from the needs of West African citizens.
Ambassador Abdel-Fatah Musah of the ECOWAS Commission described the region as being at a “critical juncture,” citing a “crisis of security and a crisis of democracy.” He revealed the organization has launched a citizen-led introspection process to develop a new 15-year roadmap.
Former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, emphasized the need for a citizen-centred community. “ECOWAS must evolve into a citizen-centred community capable of addressing poverty, inequality, insecurity, and governance failures,” he stated.
The debate highlighted the urgent need for the regional body to reinvent itself, with a focus on unity, institutional reform, and directly engaging its population to overcome mounting political and security challenges.
