On Saturday, June 21, 2025, President Bola Tinubu will participate in the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES), hosted at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja. The summit, now in its second and final day, serves as a precursor to the 67th Ordinary Summit of ECOWAS scheduled for the following day at the State House Conference Centre.
The summit represents a landmark initiative spearheaded by President Tinubu in his capacity as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government. Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, stated in a release that WAES is the first event of its kind, designed to deepen economic integration among West African nations. “Its strong focus is on enhancing trade and investment cooperation across the subregion,” Onanuga explained.
In a move to foster inclusive regional dialogue, President Tinubu extended invitations to the Alliance of Sahelian States and Mauritania, reflecting his dedication to broader cooperation. Confirmed participants include heads of state from Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, The Gambia, Benin, Togo, and Guinea-Bissau.
The summit convenes ministers overseeing Finance, Trade, Infrastructure, and Foreign Affairs from ECOWAS countries, alongside representatives from regional economic bodies such as the West African Monetary Agency, West African Monetary Institute, ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, West African Economic and Monetary Union, and the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat.
Private sector executives, development partners, and policy experts are also in attendance, aiming to produce concrete deliverables that will accelerate West Africa’s integration agenda. This initiative is seen as a critical foundation for fostering sustainable peace, security, and prosperity throughout the region.
Ahead of the event, President Tinubu sent a delegation led by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, along with Senior Special Assistant Sola Enikanolaiye, to formally invite regional leaders.