President Bola Tinubu on Sunday, June 22, officially handed over the leadership of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government to President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone.
The ceremony took place during the 67th Ordinary Session of the Authority held in Abuja.
Tinubu concluded his two-year term by presenting the ECOWAS Emblem to Bio. He shared that serving the West African bloc since July 2023 had been an honour.
Reflecting on his time in office, Tinubu said the region faced many political and security troubles, but he praised the unity and support from fellow leaders and institutions throughout his leadership.
He urged ECOWAS members to remain united in building peace, stability, and development, while ensuring that no group—especially young people, women, and the vulnerable—is left behind.
Tinubu also stressed the need to protect democratic values and link political stability to economic progress.
He appreciated the work of the ECOWAS Commission and other bodies that helped carry out the regional goals and organise the summit.
He ended by calling on leaders to continue working together to strengthen integration and secure the region.
Taking over as Chairman, President Bio outlined his leadership plan, focusing on four main areas.
He promised to guide ECOWAS in restoring democracy in countries under military rule, boosting security collaboration, pushing economic ties, and rebuilding trust in regional governance.
He spoke about the need to support transitional governments, strengthen democratic institutions, and tackle the threats of terrorism, arms trafficking, and cross-border crime.
He said reforms are needed to make ECOWAS more open, fast, and people-driven, especially for the benefit of youth and women.
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