President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has departed Liberia to attend the 50th Anniversary Commemorative Ceremony of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), scheduled to take place on May 28, 2025, in Lagos, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The ceremony, hosted by the Government of Nigeria, will convene Heads of State and Government, regional leaders, and other dignitaries to celebrate five decades of West African cooperation, regional integration, and solidarity under the ECOWAS framework.
Key events will include a symbolic re-enactment at the National Institute of International Affairs (NIIA)—the historic site where the foundational discussions of ECOWAS were held in 1975.
This event will pay tribute to the NIIA’s significant role in the formation of ECOWAS and reaffirm the region’s continued commitment to integration, peace, and development.
President Boakai is expected to participate in a series of commemorative activities, including the signing of a special 50th Anniversary Card, a collective declaration by Heads of State reaffirming their commitment to the ECOWAS vision, the main anniversary ceremony at EKO Hotel in Lagos, and a Round Table Conference on regional development at the NIIA.
The President’s attendance highlights Liberia’s unwavering dedication to regional collaboration and to the ideals and objectives of ECOWAS, particularly in the areas of peacebuilding, economic cooperation, and sustainable development.
President Boakai is accompanied by a small delegation, including Deweh Gray, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs; Major General Daniel D. Ziankahn (Rtd.), Military Advisor to the President; and Atty. Samuel Koffi Woods II, National Security Advisor. He is also accompanied by his communications, protocol, and security teams.
While the President is away, Sylvester Grigsby, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, will chair the Cabinet in consultation with Jeremiah Kpan Koung, Vice President, and the President via telephone.
President Boakai and delegation are expected to return to the country at the conclusion of the activities on Thursday, May 29, 2025.
