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Nigerian billionaire businessman and philanthropist, Mr. Femi Otedola, has supported Augustine University, Ilara-Epe, Lagos State, with an additional N500 million donation to fast-track ongoing infrastructural projects and accelerate the completion of the university’s Faculty of Engineering complex.

Otedola made the announcement of the donation on Thursday, during the institution’s 7th convocation ceremony, which also marked its 10th anniversary.

Recall that Otedola, during the 6th convocation ceremony of the University, announced a donation of N3.7bn for the construction of a new engineering building.

The 7th convocation of the University attracted dignitaries, religious leaders, government officials and members of the academic community to honour 148 graduating students and reflect on the university’s decade-long journey of faith, knowledge and character formation.

The event’s theme: ‘AUI @ 10: Fulfilling the Mandate of Providing Integral University Education for a Borderless World,’ captured the institution’s philosophy of producing globally competent graduates who embody integrity, discipline, and a strong moral compass.

In his address, Otedola, who serves as Chancellor of Augustine University, reaffirmed his commitment to the institution’s growth and to the completion of the Faculty of Engineering complex, named after his mother, Dame Doja Otedola.

He explained that the rising cost of construction due to inflation had slowed progress on the existing project, which is now estimated at N4billion. He, therefore, presented a N500 million cheque to the contractor to fast-track completion before the 2026 convocation ceremony.

‘Augustine University has come a long way in just ten years. We started with a vision, and today, we are witnessing the fulfilment of that dream, an institution that produces graduates who combine knowledge with strong moral character. This donation is a reaffirmation of my personal commitment to the success of Augustine University and the ideals it stands for,’ Otedola said.

A total of 148 students graduated from various faculties, with 22 earning First-Class Honours, 57 Second Class Upper, 57 Second Class Lower, and 12 Third Class degrees, while 21 students received diplomas. The Best Graduating Student, Miss Annie Ifeoluwa Adeyera, earned a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.90 in Biochemistry.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Professor Anthony Alaba Akinwale, OP, celebrated Augustine University’s achievements over the past decade, including the promotion of the institution’s first two home-grown professors, Professor Grace Evbuomwan and Professor Adelodun Kolapo. He highlighted ongoing projects in the University, including the development of new hostels, laboratories, and digital facilities, describing them as part of the university’s mission to create a borderless learning environment.

Fr. Akinwale, also, used the occasion to challenge the graduating students to contribute to national development rather than join the migration wave. ‘The difficult task of building Nigeria is in our hands,’ he declared. ‘You have been trained not to flee but to transform this nation with the knowledge, faith, and character you have acquired here.’

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command of the Nigeria Police Force has announced that its operatives have dismantled a transnational kidnapping syndicate that demanded a ransom of N230 million from foreign nationals lured to Nigeria with false promises of lucrative jobs.

The operation, conducted by the Command’s Scorpion Squad, took place at around 8 PM on Tuesday, October 22, 2025, in Angwan Adamu Ruga Fulani Zone B, Riverside, Ado Mararaba, Nasarawa State, which is very close to Abuja, the nation’s capital. During this operation, 14 suspected kidnappers were arrested, and 23 foreign nationals were rescued.

According to police findings, the victims, hailing from various West African countries, were deceived into travelling to Nigeria by a criminal syndicate posing as recruiters.

Upon their arrival, the kidnappers held them captive and demanded ransom payments from their families via WhatsApp and other online platforms.

FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, stated on Friday that investigations have identified the ringleader as Abubakar Jigiba, a notorious cross-border criminal with known residences in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, and Nigeria.

The syndicate demanded four million CFA francs (approximately N10 million) per person, totalling N230 million in ransom.

Adeh confirmed that efforts are ongoing to track down the principal suspect, Abubakar Jigiba, along with his brother, Sougule Zoubere, both of whom remain at large.

She said: ‘In a major breakthrough against kidnapping and human trafficking, operatives of the FCT Police Command’s Scorpion Squad have successfully arrested fourteen (14) suspected kidnappers and rescued twenty-three (23) victims, all foreign nationals, from captivity. The intelligence-led operation took place at about 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 22nd October 2025, at Angwan Adamu Ruga Fulani Zone B, Riverside, Ado Mararaba, Nasarawa State.

‘The operation followed a report indicating that several foreign nationals had been lured into Nigeria under the pretext of lucrative job offers. Upon arrival, they were held hostage by their abductors, who demanded ransom payments from their families via WhatsApp and other online platforms.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the syndicate is coordinated by one Abubakar Jigiba, a transnational criminal kingpin with known residences in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, and Nigeria. His younger brother, Sougule Zoubere, handles the recruitment, kidnapping, and smuggling of victims from Mali into Nigeria, where they are detained pending ransom payments. The group demanded four million CFA (?10,000,000) for each victim.

‘Further investigations revealed that the victims were trafficked into the country through illegal border routes in a journey lasting about three days. They were subsequently confined in two fortified two-bedroom apartments under inhumane conditions. Acting on actionable digital and reconstructive intelligence, the Scorpion Squad traced the hideout to the above address where a total number of twenty-three (23) victims, comprising fourteen (14) males, eight (8) females, and one (1) child, all unhurt, except one who sustained a minor ear injury and has been taken to the National Hospital, Abuja, for medical attention.

‘The following suspects were arrested in connection with the crime: Bubakari Cisse (40), Karamogo Dembele (25), Musa Kamsoko (23), Amadou Traore (25), Sareba Traore (24), Zoumana Diara (23), Umar Koulibaly (26), Alasgara Sagara (20), Berthe Saidu (23), Abdullahi Napo (32), Isah Goita (26), Lorita Traore (22), Mohammed Siaaibe (23), and Haruna Dembele (37). Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the principal suspect, Abubakar Jigiba, his brother Sougule Zoubere, who are currently at large.’

Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to advancing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda as the world marks the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325).

In a statement personally signed by the Minister and issued to newsmen on Friday by Jonathan Eze, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Minister, Sulaiman-Ibrahim described the Resolution as ‘a defining moment that gave the world a new language for peace, one spoken through the courage, strength, and leadership of women.’

The Minister noted that Nigeria remains one of the first African countries to domesticate the global agenda through the development of its National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace, and Security, which ensures that women’s participation, protection, and leadership are mainstreamed into national security and peacebuilding processes.

Hon. Imaan stated that, under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, which prioritizes women, children, families, and vulnerable groups, the Third National Action Plan (NAP 3) has been developed and approved by the President. The new plan, she said, was crafted through an inclusive process involving government agencies, the United Nations system, development partners, and civil society, ensuring collective ownership and accountability.

She announced that a National Committee will soon be inaugurated to operationalize the Third NAP and coordinate its implementation nationwide. The committee, comprising representatives from relevant ministries, security agencies, and partners, will also oversee activities commemorating 25 years of the global Women, Peace, and Security Agenda.

The Minister highlighted major institutional reforms that have strengthened gender mainstreaming within Nigeria’s security sector including the establishment of Gender Desk Offices across the Armed Forces and paramilitary services and the elevation of the Directorate of Gender in the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff.

She praised the adoption of gender policies by the Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), describing them as ‘bold shifts toward inclusive and accountable security governance.’

Under these initiatives, Nigeria has recorded historic progress including the appointment of the first female Director-General of the DSS, female Comptroller Generals of Immigration, the first female Deputy Comptroller General of the NSCDC, and the first female Public Relations Officers of both the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force.

Hon. Imaan also commended traditional institutions for increasingly appointing women into community leadership roles, describing it as ‘a significant cultural shift that strengthens peace, governance, and social cohesion.’

The Minister revealed that 16 States and 21 Local Government Areas have already developed their respective Action Plans, with efforts ongoing to expand the initiative to all states to deepen grassroots implementation.

On the international front, she disclosed that Nigeria has surpassed the UN’s benchmark for women’s participation in peacekeeping operations, with 21.2% of deployed Nigerian peacekeepers now being women a milestone she said reflects ‘Nigeria’s leadership in advancing gender equality in global peace missions.’

Hon. Imaan explained that the Third National Action Plan aligns with the Nine Pillars of the Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention Programmes (RH-SIIP) of the Ministry, providing a comprehensive framework for empowerment, protection, social inclusion, governance, and national stability.

She expressed appreciation to key partners, including UN Women, the Defence Headquarters, the Nigeria Police, the DSS, the Governments of the United Kingdom and Norway, development partners, civil society organizations, and traditional leaders for their sustained collaboration in advancing the WPS Agenda.

Reaffirming the Ministry’s resolve, the Minister stated:

‘Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, we will continue to champion women’s leadership as the cornerstone of peace, stability, and progress. When women lead in peace, nations rise in strength and when women rise, they lift generations, communities, and the destiny of a nation.’

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has frowned at Friday’s judgment of Justice James Omotosho of Federal High Court, Abuja, stopping the party’s national convention, describing the verdict as ‘the joke of the century, open recipe for anarchy and a display of judicial brigandage.’

It would be recalled that the convention is scheduled to hold on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Justice Omotosho, while giving his ruling, averred that evidence adduced before him established that PDP failed to comply with provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as well as its own (PDP) Constitution.

He declared that the party also failed to conduct valid state congresses before it moved to hold the convention to elect its national officers.

George, who is also the Atona Oodua of Yorubaland, in a statement made available to newsmen, disagreed with the ruling, warning that such a verdict would consume the country if allowed to go unchecked, calling on the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekereekun, and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to call Justice Omotosho to order.

The PDP chieftain, while making the call, further warned that any judgment capable of leading to a breakdown of law and order should be avoided, querying what power Omotosho had to order the PDP not to have its national convention.

‘This judgment will consume this country. It is high time the judge put down his wig and gown to join politics. What is going on? This doesn’t make any sense at all.

‘I call on the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the National Judicial Council to call this judge to order. Any judgment capable of leading to a breakdown of law and order should be avoided. What power does he have to order PDP not to have its National Convention? Has the judiciary gone to the dogs?

‘During all our congresses leading to this convention, INEC officials were present. The electoral body witnessed the procedure. They took notes. INEC is not complaining. The judge did not even call INEC officials to cross-check facts, and tell him what they witnessed during our congresses. So, why is the judge complaining? Does he have a political interest?

‘What type of judgment is this? Are we still in a democracy? We have to be careful in this country. The CJN and NJC should monitor some of these judges before they set our democracy on fire.

‘PDP is the oldest and most experienced party in the country today. Since 1998, when we formed this party, we have always followed the law during our congresses and conventions. So, nobody should teach us what we already know,’ George cautioned.

George lamented that the judiciary was being used to truncate democracy in the largest black-populated country in the world, dismissing all the grounds adduced for the judgment, even as he pointedly declared that it wasn’t the prerogative of the court to dabble into the internal affairs of a political party in managing its affairs as entrenched in its internal dynamics and Constitution.

The Kano State Commissioner for Public Procurement, Project Monitoring, and Evaluation, Comrade Nura Ma’aji Sumaila, conducted an extensive oversight tour of nine major project sites across the state, which are valued at a total of ?18.4 billion.

During the tour, she reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and value for money in public spending.

The inspection covered strategic projects, ranging from road construction and educational infrastructure to healthcare and skills development facilities.

According to the Commissioner, the purpose of the exercise was to assess contractors’ performance, ensure adherence to contractual specifications, and uphold Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s vision of delivering high-quality infrastructure to the people of Kano State.

Some of the inspected projects included the Government House Roundabout, Monument Valley at RMK Flyover, Kofar Nassarawa, the Guidance and Counselling Board Office Complex, the School of Islamic Studies in Tofa Local Government Area, and the Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital, among others.

During the tour, Comrade Ma’aji Sumaila commended several contractors for their professionalism and dedication, particularly those involved in the renovation of the Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital.

The Commissioner emphasised that continuous monitoring is crucial for ensuring timely delivery, cost-effectiveness, and quality assurance in state-funded projects.

Additionally, he stated that the Ministry would compile an interim report based on field observations and submit it to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for further policy actions aimed at strengthening governance and accountability.

Furthermore, the Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, explained the decision to suspend and later revive the state’s monthly empowerment program for women across the 44 local government areas.

He disclosed that ‘ We had to pause, review, and restructure the process to make sure the support truly gets to the most vulnerable women in our rural communities.’

According to him, ‘the empowerment initiative was inspired by his campaign visits, where he witnessed firsthand the economic challenges confronting women at the grassroots.’

Gov Yusuf made this known during the disbursement of another round of ?50,000 each to about 5,200 women. The governor said the programme was temporarily paused after reports indicated that the funds were not reaching the intended beneficiaries.

He then emphasised that when properly utilized, the ?50,000 grant could boost small businesses and improve livelihoods in rural areas.

Describing the effort as a partnership between the state and local governments, Yusuf urged beneficiaries to use the funds responsibly for the benefit of their families and communities.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made a formal reaction on Friday to the judgment of the Abuja High Court, which stopped its planned November 15 Ibadan National Elective Convention, saying that the judgment didn’t affect its preparations for the event.

While describing the action of the court as ‘an assault on Nigeria’s democratic process’, the party called on its members to remain focused on going to Ibadan for the convention.

‘The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is appalled by the judgement of the Federal High Court Abuja, presided over by Honorable Justice Kolawole Omotosho today, describing it as an assault on Nigeria’s democratic process.

‘However, the PDP states that the judgment of the court does not vitiate its ability to proceed with the processes and activities towards the National Convention to elect new National Officers to pilot the affairs of the Party for the next four years’, the National Publicity Secretary, Honourable Debo Ologunagba, said in a reaction to the judgment.

The party referenced the April 4 judgment of the Supreme Court, which empowered political parties to regulate its internal affairs, noting that the party would go ahead to host the convention.

However, Ologunagba clarified that as a law-abiding organisation, the PDP had also directed its lawyers to appeal the judgment.

The stated further, ‘Our Party notes the recent judgement of the Supreme Court which affirms the supremacy of a political party in the management of its internal affairs.

‘The PDP therefore charges its members, Chapter and Organs to remain steadfast and focused on preparations towards the holding of the National Convention of our Party

‘Nevertheless, the PDP as the leading opposition Party in Nigeria committed to the Rule of Law has accordingly directed its lawyers to take immediate action to appeal this judgment in our unwavering determination to uphold, defend and promote multi-party democracy in our country.’

Three aggrieved members of the party namely, Honourable Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman); Honourable Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman); and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South), had dragged the PDP to court, asking to to stop the convention on the grounds of violation of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act, 2022 and the PDP’s constitution.

Specifically, they had cited alleged exclusion of some key stakeholders from the preparations for the convention among other concerns.

The immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa (retd.), on Friday said he was leaving the Nigerian Armed Forces after 39 years of service, with a clear conscience, having given his all to the military and the fight against insecurity.

Speaking at his pull-out parade in Abuja, Musa said he served the country with dedication and accountability throughout his years in the military.

He said, ‘As I hang my uniform today, I do so with a clear conscience, knowing that I gave my all. I leave with cherished memories of camaraderie of battles fought, and triumphs celebrated as one family. The sound of the bugle may change for me, but the soldier’s heart beats on forever.’

Musa thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing him as Chief of Defence Staff, describing the opportunity as an honour he did not take for granted.

He also pledged continued loyalty to the President and the nation, even in retirement.

‘I might be retiring from active military service today, but I’m by no means retiring from my love for our dear country, Nigeria. I remain a soldier at heart and a patriot ever loyal to the constitution and sovereignty of our great nation. Once again, I appreciate Mr President for the opportunity to serve as the Chief of Defence Staff for two years plus,’ he said.

The retired general called for stronger collaboration among security and intelligence agencies, stressing that the fight against insecurity cannot be won by the military alone.

‘I want to state this clearly that there is no single institution, no single organisation that can win this war alone. We must synergise, we must collaborate, we must fight together, and I appeal to all Nigerians to pray for our troops, to pray for our security forces so that we can win, and together we shall succeed. Nigeria shall continue to develop,’ he said.

He also congratulated his successor, General Olufemi Oluyede, and urged officers and personnel to give him and other service chiefs the same level of loyalty and professionalism.

Musa expressed gratitude to his family, describing them as ‘unsung heroes’ who stood by him through years of service. He also appreciated the media and other security agencies for their support during his tenure.

General Musa was appointed Chief of Defence Staff on June 19, 2023, by President Tinubu as part of a major change in the nation’s security leadership. His exit from the role followed the appointment of General Oluyede to assume office as the new CDS on Thursday.

Meanwhile, in 1986, Musa gained admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), where he pursued and obtained a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree upon graduation in 1991. That same year, he was commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant.

In September 1991, he joined the 38th Regular Course 21 at the NDA and later completed a Mechanical Transportation Officers Course in 1992.

Ahead of Monday formal declaration for the All Progressives Congress by Bayelsa state governor, Douye Diri, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the ruling party, Honourable Yekeen Nabena has said Governor Diri’s defection to APC is nothing to be excited about.

Nabena who incidentally is from Bayelsa state made the declaration while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Friday.

He revealed that chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party who enjoy followership in the south south state have refused to join Governor Diri in the APC unlike what happened in Delta and Enugu state in which the entire cabinet and state lawmakers followed the governors to the APC.

He said: ‘Let me put it on record that we are not saying the Governor should not join the APC, it is a democracy and he has right to join any party. The fact we will not take is for him to destroy some people and the existing leadership of the APC in Bayelsa state because he wants to take full control of the party.

‘Up till now we have not found answer to the question of what Governor Douye Diri is bringing to the APC. This is a Governor that his Deputy is not defecting with him, hence he is plotting to impeach the Deputy Governor.

‘This is a Governor that even some State House of Assembly members have rejected. About 90 per cent of the serving National Assembly members, including Senator Seriake Dickson and other high profile lawmakers, are not on the same page with him.

‘This is a Governor who is not in control of his local constituency not to talk of his entire Senatorial District. We ask Governor Douye Diri again to tell Nigerians who is running after him or what is he running after?’

Nabena who traced recent arrest rumour of the Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, to the power game in Bayelsa state over control of party structures also revealed that so many of the prominent politicians in Bayelsa PDP are comfortable with the leadership of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku and will only join President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda through the NDDC boss at the right time.

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has said he received the court judgment stopping the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its national convention with mixed feelings, but insisted that impunity must be brought down in the party.

Recall that Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, stopped the planned 2025 National Convention of the PDP until the party complies with the statutory requirements of the party, the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

Delivering judgment in a suit filed by three aggrieved members of the party, the judge also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting a report on the outcome of any national convention of the party without following the due process of the law, as well as its guidelines and regulations.

Wike, who disclosed on Friday in his official residence in Life Camp while addressing some PDP concerned stakeholders, said he was filled with different reactions. He said that while the ruling stands as one of the happiest days of his life, it is also the saddest because of how unsettled the party is.

He stated that leadership is very important, and when certain people become arrogant and do not recognise the sacrifices of some of the party stakeholders, it is only a matter of time before reactions spring up.

Wike said, ‘On one part, it’s one of my happiest days. On one hand, it’s one of my saddest days. So it’s like a mixed feeling. If you love your party, you will not be happy with what is going on in your party. And there are ways, if somebody or people who believe in justice want to fight impunity in your party.

‘So, on one part, we are happy that we have fought impunity on their part. We are not happy with the way our party is going. But what is key for all of us is that we all may make the sacrifice. I’ve said it several times to my colleagues; it has nothing to do with any personal interest. But I think it must be done very well.

‘It’s unfortunate that the so-called purported national convention cannot hold; it has never been bad like this in the Peoples Democratic Party.

‘Opposition party is supposed to put heads together and follow due process, but if you are not doing that, then you are sending a wrong message.’

Wike further urged PDP concerned stakeholders not to relent in their efforts in standing by the truth and to reject intimidation.

‘The last time we met, we said we are going to challenge any action that contravenes provisions of the party, and today, by the grace of God, the court has allowed justice to prevail.

‘Nobody will be intimidated; we will do what is right. What I expect the governors to do now is to use monies in the state to impact the lives of citizens and not to use it to kill our party,’ he added.

Some of the dignitaries in attendance include former governors of Benue and Abia states, Samuel Ortom and Okezie Ikpeazu, Senator Philip Aduda, present and former federal lawmakers, Rivers State lawmakers led by the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, and some PDP party state chairmen, among others.

Co-Founder of the Amandla Institute and former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to transform from an elite-driven organisation into a people-centred community that genuinely addresses the aspirations of its citizens.

Fayemi made the call in Abuja at a high-level Meeting of Experts and African Public Square themed ‘Reimagining West African Regional Cooperation and Integration: Alternative Futures.’ The event was jointly organised by the Amandla Institute and the African Leadership Centre (ALC), in collaboration with CODESRIA and Wathi.

While speaking further, Fayemi described the gathering as ‘a timely and critical conversation’ on the changing dynamics within ECOWAS, deepening security and governance challenges, and the future of regional integration in West Africa.

‘This important gathering presents us with an opportunity to reimagine the regional integration project in all its dimensions economic, security, political, and structural,’ Fayemi stated. ‘We must acknowledge the significant contributions of ECOWAS in shaping regional peace and development.’

He lauded ECOWAS for being a ‘pacesetter among regional economic communities’ and for pioneering ‘norms and standards on peace, security, democracy, and good governance,’ citing its ‘laudable rescue missions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau.’

Fayemi, however, said that despite these achievements, the regional body must reinvent itself to remain relevant.

‘There were strong concerns that the promised transition from an ECOWAS of rulers an elite club of incumbent leaders to a community of the people was not happening,’ he said. ‘Internal reforms designed to make the Community more agile have stalled, leaving ECOWAS remote from the peoples it was meant to serve.’

He lamented that progress in intra-regional trade and the establishment of a single currency had been ‘far from optimal,’ noting that persistent obstacles to investment and trade flows reflected ‘a deficit of political will among leaders.’

‘The ECOWAS single currency has become an endless wait as the target date keeps shifting on account of various technicalities,’ Fayemi observed. ‘While efforts have been made to improve the internal finances of the Community, inadequate funding remains a huge challenge.’

He also warned that ECOWAS’ dependence on external donors had opened the door to manipulation.

‘The uncoordinated response of West Africa to the European Union’s Economic Partnership Agreements is a case in point. External actors have embedded themselves in the structures and processes of the Community.’

Turning to the region’s worsening security situation, Fayemi stressed that ‘traditional military strategies alone are inadequate’ and called for a more intelligence-driven and people-focused approach.

‘What is needed is a comprehensive human security strategy that addresses poverty, inequality, and governance failures which extremist groups continue to exploit,’ he said.

He cautioned citizens against viewing military rule as an alternative to weak civilian governments.

‘While many are frustrated with civilian leaders, military rule is not a viable solution,’ Fayemi warned. ‘History has shown that military regimes do not provide sustainable answers. In the three countries that have exited ECOWAS, terrorism and insecurity have actually worsened since the coups.’

Fayemi urged ECOWAS to find ways to engage the breakaway states Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger without alienating them further.

‘ECOWAS has always been flexible and adaptive,’ he said. ‘There is no reason why the Sahelian bloc cannot continue to be part of ECOWAS even if they insist on maintaining a distinct identity. The goal should be to preserve regional cooperation, stability, and development.’

He stressing that ECOWAS must embrace change to remain relevant. ‘ECOWAS cannot continue business as usual. This is a time for deep reflection, bold reforms, and renewed commitment to integration, security, and inclusive governance. The future of West Africa depends on the choices we make today.’

Representing ECOWAS Commission President, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdufatah Musah, described the moment as one demanding ‘deep introspection and honest self-assessment.’

‘ECOWAS today faces a crisis of democracy and security. Manipulation of constitutions and exclusionary politics have become fashionable. Democracy is in crisis, and insecurity has worsened.’

Musa said the bloc’s history had passed through three phases: formation amid Cold War divisions, the peacekeeping era of the 1990s, and the current struggle with insecurity and governance.

‘It was visionary leadership that created ECOWAS in 1975,’ he recalled. ‘At that time, bringing together francophone, anglophone, and lusophone states was itself a miracle. Now, after fifty years, we must ask whether we are still faithful to that vision.’

He warned that ‘external shocks and internal weaknesses’ had combined to create a turning point for West Africa. ‘The world is no longer bipolar; it is multipolar even multicultural,’ he said. ‘Countries now have choices based on their interests and values. West Africa must also choose between people-centred democracy and authoritarian regression.’

The Commissioner disclosed that ECOWAS had launched ‘a series of introspections’ across its structures to redefine its strategy for the next 15 years.

‘Citizens must be at the heart of this new ECOWAS,’ Musa stressed. ‘They must decide the direction we take. Every generation must discover its mission, fulfil it, or betray it. For West Africa, this is that defining mission.’

The Vice President (International Engagement) at King’s College London and Founding Director of the African Leadership Centre, Professor Funmi Olonisakin, said the 50th anniversary should provoke a fundamental rethink of the regional body’s purpose and structure.

‘Even without the current crises, a strong case exists for a reinvention of the West African integration project. The transition from an ECOWAS of rulers an elite club of political leaders to a community of the people has not happened as hoped.’

She expressed concern that promised reforms had stalled. ‘The organisation is becoming remote from the people it was meant to serve,’ Olonisakin warned. ‘It risks being reduced to a wobbly bureaucratic juggernaut.’

On economic performance, she said progress had been slow despite multiple policy frameworks. ‘The much-heralded ECOWAS single currency has become an endless wait for Godot ‘Obstacles to intra-West African trade and investment persist because of a deficit of political will.’

She also criticised the bloc’s dependence on foreign funding. ‘Under-funding and donor dependency have left ECOWAS vulnerable to external manipulation,’ she said. ‘The disarray that greeted the EU’s Economic Partnership Agreements showed how easily outside interests can shape our regional agenda.’

Calling for a ‘bold, imaginative re-engineering,’ she added, ‘This is the time to draw on our history, reclaim our agency, and project a future integration model that is truly self-determined, inclusive, and audacious.’

The Executive Director of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), Professor Godwin Murunga, said regional integration in Africa was being driven ‘not by states but by people.’

‘State-led integration is lagging behind people-led integration. Technology, mobility, and youthful energy are weaving a web of connections that governments can no longer control.’

He argued that the legacies of colonial borders still constrained regional unity but could not suppress the realities of modern interdependence.

‘Colonial boundaries have created tension between states and communities,’ he said. ‘But despite these artificial divisions, West Africans continue to connect, trade, and move asserting a reality that predates the borders.’

He added that Africa’s youth were now the true drivers of integration. There is a youthful population in a rush for regional unity. They will not wait for governments. The question is whether our institutions will catch up.

Murunga urged leaders to see the current crisis as an opportunity. ‘State institutions must stop seeing citizens as afterthoughts.

‘People are already integrating socially and economically. ECOWAS must align itself with that unstoppable force,’ he said.