ECOWAS at 50, Uniting W/ Africa for Peace, Prosperity, and a Youth-Driven Future Event. Raymond Enoch
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) marks a historic milestone this week as it celebrates 50 years of regional unity, peace, and socio-economic progress, with a renewed commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders through the Human Capital Development Youth Conference in Accra.
The Conference is set to hold at the vibrant Labadi Beach Hotel Accra, Ghana’s capital city. The two-day event—taking place from April 29th to 30th, 2025—is bringing together youth leaders, policymakers, innovators, and civil society stakeholders from across the West African region and beyond. The goal: to chart a transformative path for the region’s future through bold, youth-led solutions and strategic investments in human capital.
With the theme centered around innovation, leadership, and youth-driven change, the conference underscores ECOWAS’s strategic vision for its next chapter—placing young people at the heart of development in a region home to one of the world’s fastest-growing youth populations.
Over the past five decades, ECOWAS has played a pivotal role in fostering regional integration, peacekeeping, and economic cooperation among its 15 member states. From mediating conflicts to facilitating free movement of goods and people, the bloc has earned global recognition for its diplomatic and development work. But as challenges such as unemployment, migration, and technological shifts persist, ECOWAS is turning its focus inward—toward the untapped potential of its youth.
“This conference is not just a celebration; it’s a launchpad,” said a senior ECOWAS official. “We are here to co-create solutions with the youth, not just for them. The next 50 years depend on how well we harness our human capital today.”
Participants are expected to engage in high-level discussions, workshops, and innovation showcases addressing key pillars such as education, digital inclusion, entrepreneurship, health, and governance. The conference also aims to foster cross-border collaborations and establish long-term frameworks for youth policy implementation across member states.
The global online audience is invited to follow the conversations and outcomes of the conference, which is being live-streamed and amplified via social media with the goal of engaging the broader diaspora and international partners.
As ECOWAS celebrates its golden jubilee, the message from Accra is clear: the future of West Africa is youthful, interconnected, and brimming with possibility.
