In a significant move to bolster regional economic ties, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Envoy on the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES), Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, was formally received by President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire.

According to a statement from Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the high-profile meeting took place at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan.

Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu delivered a formal letter of invitation from President Tinubu, personally inviting President Ouattara to participate in the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit, scheduled to take place from June 20th to 21st, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria.

During the meeting, Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu also conveyed Nigeria’s readiness to host key decision-makers from governments and industries across the West African region.

She emphasized that

The summit will specifically focus on vital areas such as sustainable development, strategic integration, and fostering a shared vision for West Africa’s economic sovereignty, under the theme:

The Special Envoy’s delegation included other key officials: Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, Senior Special Assistant to Mr. President on Foreign Affairs; Ambassador John Ejinaka; and Ambassador Ahmed Sule.

President Ouattara welcomed the initiative, acknowledging its timeliness and significance in shaping the future economic landscape of the region. He expressed his appreciation for President Tinubu’s leadership in championing such a crucial endeavor and reaffirmed Côte d’Ivoire’s unwavering commitment to collaborative progress within West Africa.

Olusola Akintonde