President Tinubu Hands Over ECOWAS Leadership to Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria has officially handed over the reins of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone.

This leadership change was confirmed during the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, held over the weekend at the newly renovated Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre and the State House in Abuja. President Tinubu’s two-year term was marked by efforts to preserve democracy and navigate a region fraught with political turbulence and security threats.

The newly appointed Chair, President Bio, is stepping into the role at a critical moment in West Africa’s history. From escalating insecurity to economic challenges and a surge in military coups, the region is at a crossroads. Yet, in the spirit of African resilience and collective progress, leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to integration, development, and democratic governance.

In his farewell remarks, President Tinubu described the opportunity to serve as ECOWAS Chair as an honor and called on member states to sustain their shared vision for a peaceful and prosperous West Africa.

“As I pass this mantle of leadership to my brother, President Julius Maada Bio, I do so with great hope,” Tinubu said. “Together, we must uphold the values of unity, cooperation, and inclusive growth, especially for our youth, women, and the most vulnerable.”

Reflecting on his tenure, Tinubu acknowledged the region’s complex challenges but stressed that economic progress cannot thrive in an unstable political environment. He urged ECOWAS to remain focused on its mission, balancing economic integration with safeguarding democratic values and governance.

President Bio, in his acceptance speech, laid out a bold and people-driven vision for his chairmanship. His priorities include restoring constitutional order in troubled states, revitalizing regional security collaboration, advancing economic integration, and strengthening institutional credibility within ECOWAS.

“We must build a more transparent, efficient, and responsive ECOWAS, one that truly meets the needs of its people,” Bio asserted. “Our goal must be to transform regional initiatives into real economic opportunities, especially for young people and women.”

He also highlighted the urgency of confronting growing threats across the Sahel and coastal states from terrorism to transnational crime. Bio emphasized the need for ECOWAS to engage constructively with transitional governments and to strengthen intelligence-sharing and rapid-response capabilities across the bloc.

The leadership handover came during a high-level economic summit convened to deepen trade and investment ties across the region. Heads of state from Ghana, Liberia, Senegal, The Gambia, Benin, Togo, and Guinea-Bissau were in attendance, alongside key policymakers and institutions including the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the West African Monetary Institute (WAMI).

In a noteworthy diplomatic move, President Tinubu extended invitations to countries outside the ECOWAS bloc, including Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mauritania nations that have recently drifted from the regional fold following military takeovers. The gesture was widely viewed as a signal of reconciliation and strategic outreach.

President Bio concluded by thanking Tinubu for his steady leadership through turbulent times.

“I am humbled to build upon the foundation you have laid,” he said. “Now more than ever, West Africa must rise, united, strong, and committed to creating a future that reflects the hopes and aspirations of all its people.”

As ECOWAS charts a new path forward, there is much work to be done. But in a time when global uncertainty looms large, this peaceful transition of leadership is itself a powerful reminder of what unity can achieve.