Tinubu re-elected ECOWAS chairman

President Bola Tinubu has been re-elected as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States and Government.

Tinubu’s first tenure will elapse on Wednesday, July 9, 2024.

The president was however re-elected by a unanimous decision of fellow Heads of Government at the 65th Ordinary Session of the Authority held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Sunday, July 7.

“I have accepted to continue to deliver on this service with the great men and women on this democratic journey, to serve our interest and build democratic values on the structure we inherited,” he said in his acceptance speech.

Tinubu was elected as the ECOWAS Chairman at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the regional bloc held in Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau, in July 2023.

President Tinubu also welcomed a new member of the Authority, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, saying: “Allow me to further extend warm congratulations to the government and people of the Republic of Senegal for their steadfastness in the consolidation of democratic governance.

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“Their recently concluded presidential election has been widely adjudged as free, fair, transparent, and credible. This achievement is a testament to our region’s commitment to the principles of democracy, good governance, and rule of law.”

Tinubu said the 65th session will review the concerns in the region, adding: “We are aware of the enormous challenges, including terrorist activities and violent extremism threatening to spread from the Sahel region towards the coastal states.

“The political landscape still remains fragile in some member states, especially those that witnessed unconstitutional changes of government.”

While calling for unity within the community, the president emphasised that to elevate the people from poverty to prosperity, ECOWAS must develop innovative approaches to unleash the region’s vast economic potential.

He stated: “We must continue to identify and develop partnerships that promote investment in key sectors and promote regional trade.

“Furthermore, we must invest in our infrastructure and cultivate a conducive business environment to empower our communities to stimulate growth and build resilience against external shocks.

“Together, we can pave the way for a prosperous future for all of West Africa.”

The Star