By Alex Adi
Nigeria will host the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) at the Abuja International Conference Centre on June 20–21, 2025. The summit’s agenda is to establish a harmonized trade policy framework, mobilize critical infrastructure funding, promote inclusive economic growth, and strengthen regional economic resilience.
The summit will bring together Heads of State from member countries, ministers, private sector leaders, development partners, and youth innovators from across West Africa and beyond.
In advance of the pivotal West Africa Economic Summit, Nigeria’s Minister of State, H.E. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, is on a high-level diplomatic mission to Ghana as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s special envoy. She will deliver an official invitation to President John Dramani Mahama to attend the landmark event.
The visit is part of a regional shuttle diplomacy initiative led by Nigeria under the WAES flagship program, spearheaded by President Tinubu in his capacity as ECOWAS Chairman. The initiative aims to drive regional integration, trade, and investment across West Africa.
The summit will feature a high-level dialogue between Heads of State and business leaders, facilitating Business-to-Government (B2G) and Business-to-Business (B2B) engagements. A West Africa Business Expo will showcase over 100 investment-ready SMEs and regional development projects, aligning with Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to advance regional economic integration.
