June 04, (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has called on West African ambassadors to actively engage in the upcoming West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) 2025.
THEWILL earlier reported that the summit scheduled for June 20–21 at the Abuja International Conference Centre (AICC), aims to unlock trade and investment opportunities, strengthen regional integration, and empower West Africa’s youth, positioning the region for inclusive and sustainable prosperity.
At a high-level stakeholder meeting with West African envoys in Abuja, Ambassador Tuggar described the summit as a crucial moment to redefine the region’s economic direction and reassert West Africa’s role in global trade.
“This time, West Africa will rise not as a resource base for others, but as a fully engaged and empowered actor in global trade and transformation”, Tuggar declared.
He urged ambassadors to encourage full participation from their countries, including Heads of State, ministers, business leaders, and youth innovators, emphasising that the summit’s strength lies in the unity and collective voice of the subregion.
Tuggar explained that WAES seeks to promote regional economic ownership through collaboration beyond ECOWAS structures, amplify youth innovation and entrepreneurship via a dedicated Innovation and Enterprise Expo, and foster private sector-led development through engagement with chambers of commerce and business networks.
He highlighted President Tinubu’s commitment to regional integration, as ECOWAS Chair to pursue “an inclusive economic integration of West Africa.” He also revealed that President Tinubu had personally invited fellow West African leaders and appointed Special Envoys to deliver the invitations.
On the historical significance of the West African coast, Tuggar said the summit represents a bold effort to shift the narrative from exploitation to shared prosperity.
“We are no longer spectators. We now stand at the threshold of a new Atlantic era of prosperity. This time, we will shape its terms”, he affirmed.
Noting rising global protectionism, the Minister called for collaborative action, stating that WAES offers West Africa an opportunity to stand united, competitive, and relevant on the world stage.
