ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) was founded under the leadership of Yakubu Gowon.
Yakubu Gowon was the head of state of Nigeria from 1966 to 1975. In May 1975, he hosted the summit of the Heads of State and Government of West African countries in Lagos, Nigeria. During the summit, the idea of creating a regional economic community was proposed, and on May 28, 1975, the Treaty of Lagos was signed, establishing the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The main objective of ECOWAS was to promote economic integration among West African countries and to create a common market for the region. It aimed to promote cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, and industry, as well as to improve the transport and communication infrastructure of the region. Today, ECOWAS has expanded its scope to include political and security cooperation, as well as promoting democratic governance in the region.
In summary, Yakubu Gowon, the head of state of Nigeria, was the leader under whose leadership ECOWAS was founded in 1975.