President Bola Tinubu on Sunday handed over the Chairmanship of the Authority of the Heads of State of the Economic Community of West African State ECOWAS, to President Julius Bio of Sierra Leone, after serving out his two terms as the Chairman of the body.
President Tinubu who took over in 2023, had his tenure renewed last year, at the ECOWAS summit in Abuja.
Bio, while accepting his new role, said he accepts the responsibility with full awareness of the magnitude and of the task ahead and also the complexity of the moment.
Bio commended his predecessor for his outstanding leadership and the great work he’s done.
” Your tenure was marked by unwavering commitment to regional dialogue, economic recovery and peace building. I’m humbled to build upon the strong foundation you have established. Thank you for your experience, leadership.
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Bio rolled out four key areas, his leadership will attempt to tackle including strengthening democracy and rule of law within the region
“We must engage transitional governments constructively and support member states in building stronger democratic institutions rooted in the rule of law.
He also promised to revitalise regional security cooperation, including overhauling collective security architecture from intelligent sharing to rapid response to confront new threats with unity and resolve.
On Economic integration, the Sierra Leonean leader said he will pursue ECOWAS liberalization scheme, regional infrastructure and cross border value chains to make them become engines of job, trade and resilience, especially for our women and our youth.
The new ECOWAS Chairman also told his colleagues that ECOWAS must build institutional credibility.
According to him, ‘ECOWAS must reform itself and become more transparent, efficient and responsive to its people’s needs.
” This is how we will rebuild the trust in regional cooperation. I believe West Africa’s future is not one of decline, but of possibility if we act with courage, urgency, unity and moral clarity.”
He noted that the democratic space is under strain, in parts of the region, while constitutional order has been disrupted.
“Yet across West Africa, citizens, especially our youth, are demanding not just elections, but accountability, transparency and a fair stake in national life.
On the economy, he said th region is recovering from external shocks, including global inflation, food insecurity, energy constraint and debt vulnerabilities.
“These and many others continue to challenge us the effect of climate change, coastal erosion, floods, droughts are no longer distant threats.
” They are disrupting livelihoods today and demanding bold adaptation strategies and sustainable investment.
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“But there is also great promise our vibrant and youthful population, abundant natural resources and entrepreneur spirit remains our strongest asset in this context, ECOWAS, ECOWAS mandate, must be redefined not as a distant institution, but as a proactive, people centered vehicle for peace, inclusion and opportunity”
He therefore, appealed to the leaders to rise to the moment together, not as separate nations, but as a unified community of destiny.
