At the inaugural West African Economic Summit in Abuja, President Bola Tinubu, who also chairs the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), challenged regional heads of government to accelerate integration by translating policy blueprints into tangible, poverty‑reducing projects. He warned that West Africa could no longer tolerate “fragmentation amidst opportunity” while intra‑regional trade languishes under 10 percent.
Addressing fellow presidents, ministers, development partners, and industry chiefs, Tinubu said, “The global economy will not wait for West Africa to get its act together — nor should we. We must move from declarations to concrete deals, from policy frameworks to practical implementation.” He highlighted the bloc’s youthful demographic as a “greatest asset” that risks becoming a liability without substantial investment in education, digital infrastructure, and vocational skills.
Tinubu called for collective action to build cross‑border supply chains, energy grids, and data networks, noting that “no one country can do this alone.” He urged members to shift from exporting raw minerals toward local processing and manufacturing, declaring, “The era of ‘one pit to the port’ must end. We must turn our mineral wealth into domestic economic value.” Citing successes like the Lagos‑Abidjan Coastal Highway and the West African Power Pool, the President insisted that “the pace must accelerate,” with governments ensuring market‑friendly policies and security while the private sector drives growth.