Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has sounded the alarm on the need for a dramatic reset in how West African nations approach trade and economic cooperation — warning that failing to act now could leave the region behind in a rapidly changing global economy.
Speaking passionately during the second day of the West African Economic Summit in Abuja, Tinubu — who also serves as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) — urged fellow leaders to move beyond empty promises and focus on real action: boosting intra-regional trade, aligning policies, and harnessing the power of the region’s young population.
“Intra-regional trade below 10 percent is not just a poor statistic — it is a crisis of missed opportunities,” Tinubu declared. “The world will not wait for West Africa to get its act together, and neither should we.”
Tapping into Youth and Innovation
The president called for urgent investment in education, digital infrastructure, and entrepreneurship — emphasizing that West Africa’s fast-growing youth population could either be a game-changer or a time bomb, depending on the choices leaders make now.
“Our young people are our strength — but that potential can become a liability if we fail to provide opportunity,” Tinubu said. “We must equip them to innovate, not emigrate.”
Echoing this sentiment, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar added, “Now is the time to reset our vision. Free markets, trust in our people’s ingenuity, and deeper private-sector engagement — these are the ingredients for true transformation.”
Liberia Calls for Healing and Unity
Beyond economics, the summit also reflected on ECOWAS’s internal fractures. Liberian President Joseph Boakai made an emotional plea for dialogue with Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso — nations that recently pulled out of the bloc after military takeovers.
“We must not close the door on our brothers,” Boakai said. “Even in disagreement, we must remember our shared history, our shared threats, and our shared future.”
Laying the Groundwork for a Stronger ECOWAS
The summit brought together leaders from Ghana, Senegal, Gambia, Togo, Benin, and Guinea-Bissau, alongside finance, trade, and foreign affairs ministers. Regional institutions like the West African Monetary Institute, ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, and the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat were also present — signaling a united front for economic transformation.
As ECOWAS prepares for its 67th Ordinary Session, the message coming out of Abuja is loud and clear: West Africa is tired of waiting for prosperity to trickle in from outside. The time has come to trade, build, and rise together — from within.
“Let’s stop operating in silos,” Tinubu urged. “This is our moment to rewrite the story of West African trade — not as fractured economies, but as one united force.”
