Nigeria, May 29 -- Within the context of an enduring relationship dating back to May 1975, the establishment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as a regional bloc with an aspiration of transforming the elongated region along the Atlantic coast and stretching across the Sahel-Savanna bordering the Maghreb. The ECOWAS sets for its broad operations incorporating politics, economy, security, social and culture. The long-term goal is ensuring regional economic sovereignty and political unity among its twelve countries of West Africa.

Today, ECOWAS's 50 years of its existence represent its marked achievement. It has lagged with issues of fostering strategic solidarity, and commitments to its expected goals of sustainabl...