President Bola Tinubu has been elected as the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) during the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.

Accepting the honor on behalf of Nigeria, President Tinubu stressed the urgent need for collective action to address the escalating threats to peace in the region, including terrorism and the emerging trend of military takeovers.

As the newest addition to the group of West African Heads of State, President Tinubu emphasized the significance of tackling the pressing challenges facing the sub-region. He called for enhanced private sector engagement to drive economic growth and development.

President Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau, the outgoing ECOWAS Chairman, commended his fellow leaders for their commitment to upholding the organization’s vision despite global economic difficulties and internal conflicts within the region. He highlighted the need to address the constitutional distortions in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea while commending Nigeria and Sierra Leone for maintaining constitutional order through successful democratic elections.