The Amandla Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement has announced plans to hold a high-level meeting of experts in Abuja to mark the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The event aims to strengthen regional cooperation and explore new ideas for the future of West African integration.
According to a statement by the institute, the event, themed “Reimagining West Africa Regional Cooperation and Integration: Alternative Futures,” will take place on October 31 and November 1, 2025, at the ECOWAS Commission’s Main Auditorium, Yakubu Gowon Crescent, Asokoro, Abuja.
The two-day meeting is being organised in partnership with the African Leadership Centre, the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), and WATHI. It will bring together policymakers, scholars, and civil society leaders to reflect on ECOWAS’ journey and discuss how to shape a more inclusive and effective regional framework.
“At the heart of the 50th anniversary discourse lies the paradox of regional integration in Africa — the contrast between state ambitions and people’s lived realities,” the organisers said. “While governments often set the agenda, grassroots interactions continue to outpace formal policies, exposing the gap between institutions and citizens.”
The event will also feature the second edition of The African Public Square (APS) — following its inaugural edition held in London in 2023, which focused on Africa’s global influence.
This year’s APS debate will bring together experts in international development and public policy to review ECOWAS’ milestones and challenges, particularly in light of the recent withdrawal of three member states effective January 2025. The discussions are expected to spark new ideas and chart a more resilient, people-centred direction for the region.
The organisers noted that ECOWAS has achieved significant progress over the decades through initiatives like the ECOWAS Passport and protocols promoting free movement of people, goods, and services. However, they acknowledged that insecurity, economic inequality, and weak policy implementation continue to hold back deeper integration.
They also highlighted that the delay in adopting a common currency and growing geopolitical shifts have made the regional landscape even more complex.
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ECOWAS’ Vision 2050, they added, sets out an ambitious goal to evolve “from an ECOWAS of States to an ECOWAS of Peoples.” Achieving this, they stressed, will require stronger political will, inclusive governance, and deliberate efforts to bridge the gap between governments and citizens.
“As the region celebrates its golden jubilee, The African Public Square provides an important platform for reflection, dialogue, and renewed commitment — to ensure regional integration moves beyond policy rhetoric and becomes a lived reality for all West Africans,” the statement concluded.
