Tinubu Sets Bold Agenda For West Africa: Full Speech At ECOWAS Economic Summit Revealed

On Saturday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu addressed fellow ECOWAS leaders and Heads of State at the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit (WAES), held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Opening Remarks by H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government – Saturday, 21st June 2025, International Conference Centre, Abuja

Protocol Observed.

Your Excellencies, Esteemed Colleagues, and Friends,

It is a great honour to welcome you all—fellow Heads of State, distinguished guests, delegates, and development partners—to the first-ever West Africa Economic Summit. Your presence today reflects our shared resolve to shape a stronger, more unified economic future for our region.

We convene at a critical juncture—not to dwell on past accomplishments, but to chart a new course away from disunity and missed opportunities. Today marks the beginning of a journey toward deeper regional integration, collaborative action, and shared prosperity.

West Africa remains one of the world’s last frontiers for economic advancement. But mere opportunity does not guarantee progress. We must actively seize it—with vision, policy alignment, infrastructure investment, and regional cooperation.

Currently, intra-regional trade stands at less than 10%—a figure that should compel urgent action. This is not due to a lack of will, but to insufficient coordination. The global economy is moving forward with or without us. We cannot afford to continue operating in silos or depending heavily on external partners. Instead, we must strengthen our regional value chains, harmonize our economic policies, and modernize infrastructure.

Our region’s greatest asset is its young and dynamic population. However, this potential could become a challenge if we fail to invest in education, digital innovation, and job creation. Nigeria is prioritizing digital skills, youth empowerment, and enterprise development. But no single nation can drive transformation alone. We must work together to build integrated supply chains, interconnected power systems, and shared data ecosystems—or risk failing separately.

Our collaboration on projects such as the Lagos-Abidjan Highway, the West African Power Pool, and the creative and digital industries shows what is achievable through unity. But we must go further—transitioning from aspirations to actionable agreements; from frameworks to tangible results.

Africa missed out on previous industrial revolutions. We cannot afford to sit out the next. Our region holds the critical minerals for green technology, but possessing resources is not enough. We must add value through local processing and regional manufacturing. The era of simply extracting and exporting must end. Our goal should be turning our natural wealth into jobs, innovation, and industrial capacity.

True transformation will not come from government alone—it must be powered by the entrepreneurial energy of our people. Governments must provide security, stability, and investor-friendly policies, while the private sector drives inclusive growth.

As we conclude this summit, let us walk away with firm, practical commitments: enhancing the ease of doing business, boosting intra-regional trade, expanding infrastructure, and creating opportunities for youth and women. Together, we can build a West Africa that is competitive, resilient, and truly united.

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