WAPP at the heart of the ECOWAS Golden Jubilee Celebrations in Benin

Throughout 2025, the WAPP General Secretariat actively participated in the ECOWAS Golden Jubilee celebrations, alongside the ECOWAS Representation in Benin and the Multilateral Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) Zone E. The festivities were officially launched on May 30, 2025, at the Novotel Orisha Hotel in Cotonou, in the presence of public institutions, diplomatic representatives, youth organizations, NGOs, and West African communities.

This inaugural ceremony marked the beginning of a rich and diverse program that unfolded throughout the year. Among the highlights was the Jubilee March, held on June 28, 2025, which brought together more than 300 participants around the theme: “Stronger Together, for a Brighter Future,” illustrating the shared commitment to strengthening regional cohesion and integration.

As a prelude to the main event of the celebrations, a press luncheon brought together Beninese journalists and media professionals. This meeting provided an opportunity to present the actions already undertaken within the framework of the Golden Jubilee, to unveil the upcoming program, and to discuss the objectives, Vision 2050, and prospects of ECOWAS.

The highlight of the festivities was WAPP's participation in the inauguration of the Fiftieth Anniversary Village on November 12, 2025, at the Cotonou Convention Center. The opening ceremony brought together government representatives, members of the ECOWAS Parliament, former Presidents of Institutions, ECOWAS agencies, and the diplomatic corps. On this occasion, WAPP highlighted the major advances in West African electricity integration and the progress made in developing the regional electricity market.

The Village also hosted the ECOWAS People’s Fair, a vibrant space dedicated to West African creativity and entrepreneurship. Young and women entrepreneurs showcased their products and services, while panels highlighted ECOWAS’s achievements in Benin and the challenges related to private sector financing.

Through its active participation in all these activities, WAPP reaffirmed its strategic role in energy integration, the promotion of regional solidarity, and its commitment to the People’s Vision 2050.