President Bola Tinubu, who currently chairs the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has called for urgent economic integration across the region, warning that West Africa must act decisively rather than wait for shifts in the global economy.
Speaking on the second day of the West African Economic Summit in Abuja, Tinubu underscored the importance of unity, investment, and coordinated policy as essential steps toward a secure and prosperous future.
“This is not a time for ceremony but for concrete steps,” he declared. “We must leave behind fragmentation and embrace deeper integration, shared prosperity, and collective action.”
Tinubu cautioned against dependence on international partners and emphasized the importance of regional self-determination “the world will not wait for us. We cannot afford to move in isolation or depend solely on others.”
He pointed to the region’s intra-African trade—which remains below 10%—as a consequence of poor coordination rather than a lack of political will. He urged leaders to prioritize regional value chains, infrastructure development, and harmonized economic policies.
Turning to the region’s demographic advantage, Tinubu highlighted the urgency of investing in young people “our young population is our greatest asset, but without investment in education, digital infrastructure, and innovation, it could become a burden.”
While noting Nigeria’s initiatives in skills training and youth empowerment, he emphasized the need for a collaborative regional approach.
“No one country can do this alone. Our supply chains, energy systems, and digital frameworks must be designed together—or risk failing separately.”
He urged leaders to move from rhetoric to implementation:
“We must turn frameworks into execution, and raw material exports into local manufacturing.”
Tinubu closed his address with a call for a bold new economic vision “let’s make West Africa competitive, investable, and resilient. Let’s make this new proposition real—and bankable.”
