The Amandla Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement has announced plans to host a high-level meeting of experts in Abuja as part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States, in hopes of strengthening regional cooperation and reimagining the future of West African integration.
In a statement issued today, the institute said the event, themed “Reimagining West Africa Regional Cooperation and Integration: Alternative Futures,” will hold on October 31 and November 1, 2025, at the Main Auditorium of the ECOWAS Commission, Yakubu Gowon Crescent, Asokoro, Abuja.
The two-day meeting, organised in collaboration with the African Leadership Centre, the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa, and WATHI, will bring together policymakers, scholars, and civil society leaders to reflect on the region’s integration journey, reports The PUNCH.
According to the organisers, “At the heart of the 50th anniversary discourse lies the paradox of regional integration in Africa — a tale of two worlds: the ambitions of states and the lived realities of people. While governments often set the agenda, grassroots interactions continue to outpace formal policies, revealing a widening gap between institutional frameworks and citizen-led integration.”
The statement added that the event would also feature the second edition of The African Public Square (APS) — a follow-up to its inaugural edition held in London in 2023, which explored Africa’s global agency.
The APS debate will bring together experts in international development and public policy to examine ECOWAS’ achievements and challenges, including the withdrawal of three member states effective January 2025. The dialogue, according to organisers, aims to inspire fresh thinking and chart a more resilient, people-centred path for the region’s future.
They noted further that, “ECOWAS has pioneered regional unity through initiatives such as the ECOWAS Passport and protocols on the free movement of persons, goods, and services. Yet, persistent insecurity, economic disparities, and weak policy implementation have slowed progress. The delayed introduction of a common currency and emerging geopolitical shifts further complicate the integration landscape.”
The organisers emphasised that ECOWAS’ Vision 2050 articulates a bold ambition to evolve from “an ECOWAS of States to an ECOWAS of Peoples.” Achieving this, they said, requires renewed political will, inclusive governance, and deliberate efforts to close the gap between governments and citizens.
“As the region marks this golden jubilee, the African Public Square offers a timely platform for reflection, dialogue, and renewed commitment to ensuring that regional integration becomes not only a policy objective but a lived reality for all West Africans,” the statement concluded.
