Tinubu to host first West Africa Economic Summit in Abuja

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By Kunle Sanni –

President Bola Tinubu will host the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, the presidency has announced.

According to presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, the summit—currently in its second and final day—precedes the 67th Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government, scheduled for Sunday, June 22, at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.

WAES, an initiative of President Tinubu in his capacity as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, is designed to enhance regional economic integration, with a focus on trade and investment cooperation across West Africa.

Presidents of Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, The Gambia, Benin, Togo, and Guinea-Bissau have confirmed their attendance. The summit aims to generate actionable outcomes that will advance West Africa’s integration agenda, deemed crucial for regional peace, security, and prosperity.

Ministers of Finance, Trade, Infrastructure, and Foreign Affairs from ECOWAS member states are attending, along with representatives from key regional institutions including the West African Monetary Agency (WAMA), West African Monetary Institute (WAMI), ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.

The summit also features private sector leaders, development partners, and policy experts, who are participating in strategy sessions aimed at driving economic growth across the region.

In a bid to foster inclusive dialogue and broader cooperation, President Tinubu extended invitations to member states of the Alliance of Sahelian States, as well as Mauritania.

Ahead of the summit, a delegation led by Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations, was dispatched to deliver formal invitations to Heads of State and Government across the subregion.