President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Saturday spearhead discussions on deepening regional economic integration at the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES), taking place at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja. The summit, which marks its second and final day, serves as a precursor to the 67th Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government, slated for Sunday at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
WAES, a novel initiative of President Tinubu in his capacity as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority, is the first of its kind and is designed to foster strategic dialogue on enhancing trade and investment cooperation across West Africa. It underscores Tinubu’s regional leadership agenda, aiming to fast-track West Africa’s integration as a pathway to sustainable peace, security, and economic prosperity.
Presidents of Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, The Gambia, Benin, Togo, and Guinea-Bissau are among the confirmed participants at the summit. The high-level gathering is expected to yield concrete policy outcomes and actionable frameworks that will bolster intra-regional trade and collaborative economic growth.
Also in attendance are ministers in charge of finance, trade, infrastructure, and foreign affairs from ECOWAS Member States, alongside representatives from major regional institutions such as the West African Monetary Agency (WAMA), 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.
The summit is also attracting key players from the private sector, development partners, and policy think tanks. In a notable diplomatic overture, President Tinubu extended invitations to Mauritania and the Member States of the Alliance of Sahelian States, reflecting his administration’s commitment to inclusive dialogue and cooperative engagement across the wider West African subregion.
As host and convener, President Tinubu is expected to deliver a landmark address articulating his vision for economic integration as the cornerstone of a peaceful and prosperous West Africa.