Tinubu Set to Lead Push for Regional Integration at West Africa Economic Summit
By Sholeye Ayodele, Lagos
President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to attend the West Africa Economic Summit today, Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.
The summit, now in its second and final day, precedes the 67th Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which will take place at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, on Sunday, June 22, 2025.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the summit titled “President Tinubu To Advance Economic Integration At The West Africa Economic Summit”, reflects Tinubu’s leadership initiative as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
According to Onanuga, the summit is the first of its kind and aims to deepen regional economic integration, with a strong emphasis on enhancing trade and investment cooperation across West Africa.
As part of efforts to foster inclusive dialogue and regional unity, President Tinubu also invited Member States of the Alliance of Sahelian States and Mauritania to participate.
The summit will host leaders from several West African countries, including the Presidents of Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, The Gambia, Benin, Togo, and Guinea-Bissau. The gathering is expected to produce concrete outcomes to accelerate the region’s integration agenda, which is viewed as essential for promoting long-term peace, security, and economic prosperity.
Participants include Ministers of Finance, Trade, Infrastructure, and Foreign Affairs from ECOWAS Member States, along with representatives from major regional economic institutions such as:
- The West African Monetary Agency (WAMA),
- The West African Monetary Institute (WAMI),
- The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID),
- The West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA),
- And the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.
Additionally, private sector leaders, development partners, and policy experts are attending the summit to contribute to discussions and outcomes.
In preparation for the summit, President Tinubu dispatched a team of Special Envoys to deliver formal invitations to heads of state across the region. The delegation was led by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and included Sola Enikanolaiye, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations.
