Tinubu to W’African Leaders: Turn Region’s Demographic Strength, Mineral Wealth into Jobs, Industry resident

President Bola Tinubu has urged West African leaders to harness the region's youthful population and abundant natural resources for economic transformation through industrialization, education, and innovation. Speaking at the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) in Abuja, Tinubu emphasized the need for regional cooperation to achieve this goal.

By Rhalialt Arhuoizah

Key Points:

- Harnessing Demographic Strength: Tinubu described the region's vibrant, youthful population as its greatest asset, but warned that this demographic promise can quickly become a liability if not matched by investments in education, digital infrastructure, innovation, and productive enterprise.
- Value-Added Industries: He urged West Africa to move beyond exporting raw materials and prioritize value-added industries, saying "The era of 'pit to port' must end. We must turn our mineral wealth into domestic economic value—jobs, technology, and manufacturing."
- Regional Cooperation: Tinubu emphasized the need for regional cooperation, citing Nigeria's investments in skills development, digital connectivity, and youth empowerment. He noted that "No one country can do this alone. Our prosperity depends on regional supply chains, energy networks, and data frameworks. We must design them together—or they will collapse separately."
- Private Sector Role: The Nigerian leader underscored the role of the private sector in driving transformation, stating that "The fundamental transformation will not come solely from government, but from unleashing our people's entrepreneurial spirit. Governments must provide the right environment—law, order, and market-friendly policies—while the private sector drives growth."

Outcomes and Agreements:

- Nigeria and the Republic of Benin signed an agreement to deepen bilateral integration and serve as a model for broader regional cooperation within ECOWAS.
- The summit aimed to unlock trade and investment opportunities, drive growth, and create jobs for West Africa's nearly 460 million people.
- The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, called on West African leaders to dismantle trade barriers and reduce costs to unlock the subregion's $500 billion economic potential .