President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to participate in the West Africa Economic Summit today at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, marking a significant milestone in regional economic cooperation efforts.
The announcement was made through a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, highlighting the importance of this groundbreaking regional gathering. The summit represents the second and concluding day of deliberations focused on strengthening economic ties across West Africa.
This economic forum serves as a precursor to the 67th Ordinary Summit of the Economic Community of West African States, which will convene at the State House Conference Centre on Sunday, June 22, 2025. The sequential scheduling of these events underscores the interconnected nature of economic and political cooperation in the region.
As Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Tinubu conceived and initiated this inaugural economic summit to address the urgent need for deeper regional economic integration. The gathering specifically emphasizes enhancing trade relationships and investment cooperation throughout the West African subregion.
The summit has attracted high-level participation from across the region, with presidents from Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, The Gambia, Benin, Togo, and Guinea-Bissau confirming their attendance. This widespread presidential participation demonstrates the collective commitment to advancing West Africa’s economic integration agenda.
Beyond heads of state, the summit brings together key government officials responsible for economic policy implementation. Ministers of Finance, Trade, Infrastructure, and Foreign Affairs from ECOWAS member states are participating in discussions aimed at producing concrete outcomes that will accelerate regional integration efforts.
Regional economic institutions are also well-represented at the gathering, with delegates from the West African Monetary Agency, West African Monetary Institute, and ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development contributing their expertise. The West African Economic and Monetary Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat have also sent representatives to ensure comprehensive regional economic coordination.
The summit’s inclusive approach extends beyond government participation to encompass private sector leaders, development partners, and policy experts who bring practical perspectives on implementation challenges and opportunities. This multi-stakeholder approach reflects recognition that successful economic integration requires collaboration across various sectors.
In a gesture demonstrating his commitment to inclusive regional dialogue, President Tinubu extended invitations to member states of the Alliance of Sahelian States and Mauritania. This outreach effort signals Nigeria’s desire to maintain cooperative relationships despite recent political tensions in the region.
The President’s diplomatic preparation for the summit included dispatching special envoys to personally deliver invitations to regional heads of state and government. Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, led this delegation alongside Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations.
Summit organizers expect the deliberations to produce tangible deliverables that will serve as building blocks for West Africa’s integration agenda. The focus on concrete outcomes reflects lessons learned from previous regional gatherings that sometimes failed to translate discussions into actionable policies.
The timing of this economic summit reflects growing recognition that regional integration serves as a critical foundation for sustainable peace, security, and prosperity across West Africa. Economic cooperation has increasingly been viewed as essential for addressing the region’s security challenges and development needs.
The choice of venue at the newly named Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre adds symbolic significance to the gathering, representing Nigeria’s continued leadership role in regional affairs. The facility provides an appropriate setting for discussions that could reshape West Africa’s economic landscape.
This inaugural summit establishes a precedent for regular high-level economic dialogue among West African nations, potentially creating an annual forum for addressing emerging economic challenges and opportunities in the region.
