Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar on Tuesday said Nigeria is ready to host the June West African Economic Summit.
Minister Tuggar in a statement said the Summit with the theme “West Africa Economic Summit: Unlocking Trade and Investment Opportunities in the Region,” will take place from June 20 to 21, 2025, at the Abuja International Conference Centre (AICC).
Tuggar noted that the important regional gathering is designed to serve as a strategic platform for shaping the economic future of our sub-region.
He said WAES 2025 will bring together Heads of State, Ministers, private sector leaders, development partners, and youth innovators from across West Africa and beyond.
As a government, we recognise that sustainable development, peace, and prosperity in West Africa are best achieved through enhanced regional cooperation and economic integration. WAES 2025 reflects this conviction.
The Minister stressed that WAES 2025 “is a reaffirmation of Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to the ECOWAS vision of a borderless, peaceful, and economically integrated West Africa. It aligns seamlessly with continental objectives under Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).”
The summit, he also said, will address the facilitation of cross-border trade and logistics; The advancement of regional macroeconomic stability and value chains; The reinforcement of institutional cooperation, peace, and governance.
Tuggar said the WAES 2025 is a solutions-oriented initiative that seeks to establish a harmonised trade policy framework to eliminate barriers to intra-African commerce and investment.
Besides, he said the summit aims to “mobilise resources for critical infrastructure, energy, and logistics to improve the free movement of goods and people; Promote inclusive economic growth, with particular attention to empowering women, youth, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs);Enhance West Africa’s economic resilience through innovation, institutional reforms, and strategic global partnerships.”
The summit the minister further stated “will feature Presidential Roundtable and CEO Forum. A high-level dialogue between Heads of State and business leaders, culminating in a Joint Communiqué that articulates shared regional priorities and a concrete plan of action.
The summit Tuggar further said will provide a platform for Business-to-Government (B2G) and Business-to-Business (B2B) transactions aimed at securing landmark investment deals across strategic sectors including infrastructure, agribusiness, renewable energy, and digital finance.
He also disclosed that there will be an exhibition of 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 AfCFTA.
The youths are not left out of the summit, as the minister stated.
He pointed out that the Youth and Cultural Empowerment Series will be accommodated in the event.
“ Events such as the West Africa Art Exhibition, Innovation Pitch, and Youth Leadership Panels, these will showcase the region’s rich creative energy and the ingenuity of our youth,” the minister said.
