WAES Will Transform West African Integration – Minister

Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES), has described WAES as a legacy initiative of President Tinubu. She stated that the summit is poised to revolutionise the process of regional integration across West Africa.

The Minister made this remark while being received by the President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, during a courtesy visit in which she delivered a Special Invitation from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to attend the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit (WAES), scheduled to take place from June 20 to 21, 2025.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which added that the summit is expected to harness and transform the region’s vast economic potential.

While delivering the invitation package on Thursday, June 12, 2025, Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu informed President Umaro Sissoco Embaló that WAES is a legacy initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, designed to stimulate growth across various sectors of the West African economy.

In response, President Embaló expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for what he described as a historic step toward accelerating regional integration. He pledged his full support for the summit and confirmed that he would attend in person, accompanied by a high-level delegation to Abuja.

The Envoy and her entourage departed Bissau to Accra, Ghana, in continuation of the assignment, the statement said.