President Bola Tinubu has urged leaders of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, to work assiduously in tackling poverty and high unemployment among youth.
He also charged them to invest in education, innovation and skill acquisition while promoting peace and inclusion.
The President stated these in Accra, Ghana, during the official launch of the ECOWAS Golden Jubilee.
Represented by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the president who said ECOWAS was a bold vision created by its founding fathers on May 28, 1975, noted the vision had crystallised, adding that it was for that reason that the member states and their people were celebrating 50 years of progress, unity and resilience while rekindling the flame of solidarity that had guided the region through triumphs and trials.
He congratulated the President of the Republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, saying that his visionary leadership, unwavering dedication, and steadfast commitment to regional integration and development ideals had been a source of inspiration and strength.
He further commended the tireless efforts and unwavering dedication of the ECOWAS Commission staff, while highlighting the achievements of the subregional organization in past especially in peacekeeping and promoting democratic governance.