President Bola Tinubu is set to attend the West Africa Economic Summit on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja. This summit marks the second and final day of the event, which precedes the 67th Ordinary Summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) scheduled for Sunday, June 22, at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
According to a statement released by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the summit is a pioneering initiative by President Tinubu in his role as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government. Onanuga emphasized that the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) is the first of its kind, aimed at deepening economic integration within the region. “Its strong focus is on enhancing trade and investment cooperation across the subregion,” he said.
President Tinubu extended invitations beyond ECOWAS to include Member States of the Alliance of Sahelian States and Mauritania, underscoring his commitment to inclusive dialogue and regional cooperation. Leaders from Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, The Gambia, Benin, Togo, and Guinea-Bissau have confirmed their attendance.
The summit will bring together ministers responsible for Finance, Trade, Infrastructure, and Foreign Affairs from ECOWAS member countries, alongside representatives from key regional economic institutions 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.
In addition, private sector leaders, development partners, and policy experts are participating to ensure the summit yields tangible outcomes. These efforts aim to accelerate West Africa’s integration agenda, which is viewed as essential for sustainable peace, security, and prosperity in the region.
Ahead of the summit, President Tinubu dispatched a delegation led by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, accompanied by the Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Sola Enikanolaiye. The team delivered formal invitations to Heads of State and Government across West Africa.
