President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to lead a high-level push for regional economic integration as he hosts the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.
By Chimezie Godfrey
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to lead a high-level push for regional economic integration as he hosts the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.
The summit, a signature initiative of President Tinubu in his capacity as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, marks a significant moment in the push to strengthen economic and trade ties across West Africa. It comes ahead of the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority, scheduled to take place at the State House Conference Centre on Sunday, June 22.
“This Economic Summit is a bold and visionary step to unlock the enormous economic potential of our subregion through stronger trade, investment, and financial cooperation,” said Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, in a statement issued Friday.
Leaders of eight West African nations—Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, The Gambia, Benin, Togo, and Guinea-Bissau—have confirmed their participation, signaling a collective commitment to chart a new course for economic collaboration. The summit is expected to produce actionable outcomes aimed at fast-tracking the region’s integration agenda as a cornerstone for enduring peace, security, and prosperity.
Ministers of Finance, Trade, Infrastructure, and Foreign Affairs from ECOWAS Member States, alongside officials from key regional bodies—including the West African Monetary Agency (WAMA), the West African Monetary Institute (WAMI), ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat—are attending.
The summit also brings together major private sector players, development partners, and policy experts in what is billed as the most comprehensive regional economic dialogue in recent West African history.
In a show of inclusive diplomacy, President Tinubu also extended invitations to the Member States of the Alliance of Sahelian States and Mauritania, underscoring his administration’s commitment to fostering regional cooperation and stability beyond the formal ECOWAS bloc.
To facilitate high-level attendance, President Tinubu deployed a special team of envoys across the region. The delegation, led by Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, included Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and International Relations.
With WAES, Nigeria is positioning itself as a key driver of West Africa’s economic renaissance—anchored on unity, shared prosperity, and sustainable development.
“Regional integration is not just an aspiration; it is the most viable pathway to peace, progress, and people-centered development in West Africa,” Onanuga stated.