By Gloria Ikibah
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, today hosted a high-level roundtable with private sector leaders in Lagos, ahead of the upcoming West Africa Economic Summit (WAES 2025).
The meeting brought together top business figures to share insights and discuss how the private sector can help shape the future of regional economic integration.
“WAES is not just about policy, it’s about practical solutions. Your voice will shape the outcomes,” Amb. Tuggar stated.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to partnering with businesses to find lasting solutions to common economic challenges.
“This Summit is designed as a high-level, non-political, and inclusive platform for West African economic integration. It brings together Heads of State, Ministers, private sector leaders, development partners, youth innovators, and entrepreneurs. Unlike past efforts rooted solely in institutional frameworks, WAES is grounded in the practical realities of our regional market and the immense potential of our people.
“The decision to convene WAES outside the traditional ECOWAS framework was intentional. It highlights the economic need to foster integration among all West African states, regardless of current regional affiliations. The message is straightforward: when we prosper together, we prosper better.
“WAES offers a rare opportunity for West African countries to take ownership of their economic destiny by confronting the persistent barriers to intra-regional trade, fragmented infrastructure, and inconsistent regulatory environments. It provides a forum to articulate our common development priorities, promote scalable investments, and unlock youth-driven innovation.
“The wealth of the West African coast—our gold, our labour, our very people—fuelled empires and financed revolutions; yet we have been denied a fair stake in the prosperity we helped create. While others developed on the back of Atlantic commerce, West Africa has remained short-changed. Today, we are no longer spectators. We now stand at the threshold of a new Atlantic era of prosperity. This time, we will shape its terms. This time, we will ensure equity. This time, West Africa will rise not as a resource base for others, but as a fully engaged and empowered actor in global trade and transformation”, he stated.
Participants explored key issues such as trade barriers, infrastructure limitations, and regulatory hurdles that continue to hold back growth in West Africa.
The roundtable sets the stage for WAES 2025, which will take place in Abuja from June 20 to 21.
According to the Minister, the event marks a shift in approach: one where businesses are no longer just observers, but central players in driving regional progress.
