Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to Economically Integrated West Africa Ahead of WAES 2025

Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to Economically Integrated West Africa Ahead of WAES 2025

JOEL OLADELE, ABUJA

As Nigeria gears up to host the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) 2025, the Federal Government has reiterated its dedication to fostering a borderless, peaceful, and economically integrated West Africa.

This commitment was stated during a media parley with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, held in Abuja on Monday.

The summit, themed “West Africa Economic Summit: Unlocking Trade and Investment Opportunities in the Region,” is scheduled to take place from June 20 to 21, 2025, at the newly renovated Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre.

In his address to journalists, Tuggar emphasized the significance of this regional gathering, which will bring together heads of state, ministers, private sector leaders, development partners, and youth innovators from across West Africa and beyond.

“WAES 2025 is a reaffirmation of Nigeria’s commitment to the vision of a borderless, peaceful, and economically integrated West Africa. It aligns seamlessly with continental objectives under the Agenda 2063 of the African Continental Free Trade Area,” Tuggar noted.

He highlighted that the summit will focus on facilitating cross-border trade and logistics, advancing regional macroeconomic stability, and reinforcing institutional cooperation, peace, and governance.

The Minister further explained that the summit aims to harmonize trade policy frameworks to eliminate barriers to intra-African commerce and investment. “As a government, we recognize that sustainable development, peace, and prosperity in West Africa are best achieved through enhanced regional cooperation and economic integration,” he said.

The summit will mobilize resources for critical infrastructure, energy, and logistics to improve the free movement of goods and people, while promoting inclusive economic growth, particularly for women, youth, and small and medium enterprises.

Key components of the summit will include a presidential roundtable and CEO forum, high-level dialogues between heads of state and business leaders, and a deal room for business-to-government (B2G) and business-to-business (B2B) transactions.

“The deal room will serve as a platform aimed at securing landmark investment deals across strategic sectors, including infrastructure, agribusiness, renewable energy, and digital finance,” Tuggar explained.

Additionally, the West Africa Business Expo will showcase over 100 investment-ready SMEs and regional development projects, fostering cross-border business linkages and reinforcing the role of the private sector in advancing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The summit will also feature a youth and cultural empowerment series, including the West Africa Art Exhibition, innovation pitches, and youth leadership panels, showcasing the rich creative energy and ingenuity of the region’s youth.

Tuggar extended a warm invitation to regional leaders, continental institutions, development partners, private investors, and civil society actors to converge in Abuja for this landmark moment in West Africa’s economic evolution.

“Together, through WAES 2025, we take deliberate steps toward a prosperous, united, and globally competitive West Africa,” he urged.

In response to questions from journalists about the legal frameworks necessary for sustainable integration, the Minister highlighted the importance of private sector involvement, stating that the summit’s success is crucial for its sustainability.

“The invitation extends not just to ECOWAS and its member states, but to all stakeholders in the West African region, including businesses and development finance institutions,” he said.

Tuggar emphasized that the success of the event will depend on active participation from the private sector.

“The whole idea is to partner with the private sector to push integration, rather than leaving it solely to governments. Mr. President is taking us back to the foundational moments of regional integration,” he noted.

As Nigeria leads the charge in showcasing its potential for economic integration, the Minister highlighted the ongoing trade and investment activities driven by the private sector.

“It’s not just about attracting investment from outside the region; it’s about strengthening our regional ties and supporting our local entrepreneurs,” he affirmed.

With a focus on empowering small and medium enterprises, the summit aims to create an inclusive environment where every entrepreneur, regardless of size, can contribute to the region’s economic growth. “We are looking at how to strengthen trade within the region and ensure that governments provide the necessary infrastructure and support,” Tuggar concluded.