Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has handed over the chairmanship of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government to President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone
BAT recently expressed confidence in Africa’s continued path toward peace, stability, and prosperity.
Closing the ECOWAS Authority’s 67th Ordinary Session with the symbolic handover of the emblem to the incoming Chair, Tinubu revealed that being ECOWAS leader was a massive honour and privilege.
He stated that he was super humbled by the level of trust and support extended to him throughout his two-term tenure.
According to him, he feels fulfilled to be handing over the mantle of leadership to someone he considers a friend and a brother, and he trusts President Julius Maada Bio to ensure ECOWAS continues to guarantee peace, security, stability, and prosperity for every West African citizen.
“As I now hand over the mantle of leadership to my great friend and dear brother, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, the new Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I do so with a deep sense of fulfilment and optimism for the future of West Africa.
I remain confident that with the continued cooperation of all its members, ECOWAS will scale greater heights in our collective pursuit of peace, security, stability, and prosperity for our people and our region,” he said.
Tinubu disclosed that despite the torrid political and security challenges Africa has faced in recent times, leaders must stay dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of the people.
He reiterated the need to preserve democratic values while ensuring that political stability and economic development continue to work hand in hand.
“Let us deepen cooperation, uphold diplomatic principles, and foster inclusive growth that leaves no one behind—especially our youth, women, and vulnerable populations, who remain central to the future of our region.
Our organisation must continue to strike a fine balance between its core regional mandate of economic integration and the complex political, security, and governance challenges, including the preservation of democratic values in our region.
Economic integration cannot be superimposed on an untenable political environment. That is why we must remain steadfast in our resolve to rise to these emerging challenges,” Tinubu said.
He further reaffirmed his commitment to the region’s shared mission of fostering unity among member states.
“As you return to your respective countries, let us remain resolute in our shared mission to deepen our integration, protect our people, and build a prosperous, secure, and united West Africa,” he continued.
In his acceptance speech, President Bio vowed to lead a people-centred and action-oriented ECOWAS throughout his tenure.
He concluded by declaring that his leadership would concentrate on restoring constitutional order and deepening democracy across Africa.
“We must engage transitional governments constructively and support member states in building stronger democratic institutions rooted in the rule of law.
We must overhaul our collective security architecture—from intelligence sharing to rapid response capabilities—to confront new threats with unity and resolve.
The ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, regional infrastructure, and cross-border value chains must become engines of job creation, trade, and resilience, especially for our women and youth.
ECOWAS must reform itself to become more transparent, efficient, and responsive to the needs of its people. This is how we will rebuild trust in regional cooperation,” he added.
