At the West Africa Economic Summit held in Abuja on June 21, 2025, President Bola Tinubu, who also serves as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, urged West African nations to halt the export of unprocessed minerals and focus on creating local value through processing and manufacturing. He emphasized the need to move away from extracting minerals and shipping them abroad without adding value.
Tinubu highlighted that West Africa’s resource wealth must translate into local industries to drive economic growth. He noted that trade within the region remains below 10 percent, largely due to poor coordination rather than a lack of commitment. The president stressed the importance of building regional supply chains, investing in infrastructure, and aligning policies to strengthen economic ties. He pointed out that West Africa’s youthful population is a key asset but requires empowerment to unlock its potential. Tinubu also called for practical steps to advance joint projects, such as the Lagos-Abidjan highway and the West African Power Pool, moving from plans to action.
He warned that the region risks being left behind in global industrial advancements if it fails to act swiftly, referencing Africa’s exclusion from past industrial revolutions. The president advocated for policies that support entrepreneurship and innovation to harness the region’s mineral wealth for future technologies. He called for a competitive and resilient West Africa that promotes trade, improves infrastructure, and lifts people out of poverty through innovative solutions.
The summit, attended by leaders from Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, The Gambia, Benin, Togo, and Guinea-Bissau, preceded the 67th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS, set for June 22, 2025, at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
