Tonight, we gather in Lom, the birthplace of an extraordinary dream. This city sheltered our early doubts, nurtured our first hopes, and strengthened the conviction that Africa could shape its own financial destiny. Through the Ecobank Group's headquarters agreement, Togo became not only our host, but also the guardian of a bold ambition: that Africans could create a cross-border bank dedicated to serving the continent. Togo's support for Ecobank's vision has been both historic and unwavering.
Forty years ago, seventy founders made a decision that altered Africa's financial landscape. Tonight, we honour those elders who chose collaboration rather than fragmentation, and self-determination rather than dependence. They believed in the idea of a pan-African bank even when many doubted such an institution could ever be realised. Their courage must never be forgotten.
They took this step at a time when Africa had no cross-border banking infrastructure, no harmonised regulatory environment, very limited capital, and deep scepticism about the continent's ability to create a world-class institution. Despite these obstacles, those seventy visionaries chose to build.
