West Africa Economic Summit kicks off in Nigeria to bring together African officials, global investors

By Nur Asena Erturk

The West Africa Economic Summit kicked off on Friday in the Nigerian capital of Abuja, with African officials, international organization representatives, and private sector participants in attendance.

Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is due to address opening remarks on the second day of the summit on Saturday, wrote on X on Friday: “In keeping with my promise to convene a regional economic summit leveraging the opportunities and strengths of the West African economy, I welcome fellow Heads of Government, regional and international business executives, global investors, and the public to Abuja for the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit starting today.”

Three presidents, including Ghana's John Mahama, Senegal's Bassirou Diomaye Faye, and Benin's Patrice Guillaume Athanase Talon, are expected to attend the summit.

Organized under the theme “One Voice, One Future,” WAES 2025 aims to bring together officials from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), policymakers, companies, and development partners to discuss ways to improve economic integration, trade facilitation, and prosperity across the West African sub-region.