The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has announced Nigeria’s readiness to host the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) from June 20 to 21, 2025, at the Abuja International Conference Centre (AICC).
In a statement on Tuesday, Tuggar said the summit, themed *“West Africa Economic Summit: Unlocking Trade and Investment Opportunities in the Region,” will serve as a strategic platform for shaping the region’s economic future.
He said WAES 2025 will convene 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,” Tuggar stated.
The Minister described the summit as a reaffirmation of Nigeria’s steadfast commitment to the ECOWAS vision of a borderless, peaceful, and economically integrated West Africa. He added that the initiative aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
WAES 2025 will focus on key areas such as cross-border trade and logistics, regional macroeconomic stability, value chain development, and strengthened institutional cooperation, peace, and governance.
Tuggar noted that the summit is a solutions-driven initiative aimed at creating a harmonised trade policy framework to eliminate barriers to intra-African commerce and investment.
He added that WAES 2025 also seeks to mobilise resources for critical infrastructure, energy, and logistics; improve the free movement of goods and people; promote inclusive economic growth—particularly for women, youth, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs); and bolster economic resilience through innovation, institutional reforms, and strategic global partnerships.
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The minister 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 will showcase the region’s rich creative energy and the ingenuity of our youth,” the minister said.