Tinubu, Sierra Leone’s Bio seek stronger, modernised ECOWAS

President Bola Tinubu and Sierra Leonean President and Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government, Julius Maada Bio, have called for the strengthening and modernisation of the regional bloc to address emerging challenges and meet the demands of a rapidly changing world.

The two leaders made the call on Thursday during the official inauguration of the newly constructed ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja.

Describing the $56.5 million facility, built by the Chinese government, as a hub for vision, dialogue, innovation and collective action, they said the new headquarters symbolises the region’s commitment to deeper integration and sustainable development.

Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu described the building, known as the “Eye of Africa,” as a symbol of renewal, resilience and hope.

“This magnificent edifice, aptly described as the Eye of Africa, stands before us as a symbol of renewal, of resilience, and of hope. It speaks of the demands of our collective aspirations, and of our resolve to build a stronger, more prosperous, and more united West Africa for the generations who will one day inherit whatever we are wise enough to leave behind,” he said.

The President acknowledged ECOWAS’ achievements in promoting regional peace, economic cooperation, democratic governance and the free movement of people, goods and services across member states.

He, however, noted that the sub-region continues to grapple with terrorism, violent extremism, economic vulnerability, food insecurity, climate change, public health challenges and the growing expectations of its youthful population.

“Yet, we deceive ourselves if we pretend that the current issues before us are behind us. Our region continues to confront the scourge of terrorism and violent extremism, economic vulnerability, food insecurity, a changing climate, public health concerns, and the rising aspirations of a youthful population that will not, and should not, be made to wait forever,” Tinubu said.

He stressed that ECOWAS must continue to pursue deeper economic integration, industrial development, monetary cooperation and improved welfare for citizens, noting that regional unity is an ongoing process that requires sustained commitment from member states.

“The next phase of our integration must, therefore, carry out real aspirations in action. The hour has come to transform our regional market into a regional production base.

We must deepen our industrialisation, modify our regional value chains, expand our infra-regional footprint, and open the doors of innovation, manufacturing, and investment for our young people. Our integration must increasingly be driven by what we produce, rather than by what we consume. A community that consumes what it does not make will forever be at the mercy of the goodwill of others.

Our commitment to a peaceful, secure, democratic, and prosperous region is an ambition that can be seen on the horizon for a long time to come. The reason we draw on our key member states and the shifting skill-field landscape around us is that it reminds us of the hardcore. Regional integration can no longer be an economic imperative alone. It has become a comprehensive framework for our collective security, our political stability, our sustainable development, and the welfare of our peoples. These realities summon us to renewed dialogue, to deeper solidarity, and to a shared sense of collective responsibility.”

He also noted that the door of the community remains open to countries that have opted out of the regional body.

This new headquarters stands as a lasting affirmation of the friendship and cooperation between ECOWAS and the People’s Republic of China.

From the conception of this project to its completion, China has proven a dependable partner in our regional development, honouring its commitments at every stage. China’s own remarkable journey of development stands as living evidence that sustained vision, resilience, and strategic investment can transform nations and regions alike. Having overcome immense developmental challenges over the passing decades, China understands, as few others can, the complexity of the path upon which West Africa now sets its feet.

As we commission this landmark today, may it serve not only as a place of hope, but a centre of vision, of dialogue, of innovation, and of collective action. May every decision taken within these walls advance the peace, the unity, the prosperity, and the dignity of the peoples of West Africa. And may those who live here never forget that behind every policy there stands a human face, a family, a village, a home. They are there to stand with faith.

President Bio of Sierra Leone, in his remarks, said it is the responsibility of member states to strengthen it and modernise ECOWAS.

He said citizens of ECOWAS are not ready to accept promises but are eager to see results.

He said, “Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, our responsibility is not simply to preserve the eco-west that we inherited.

It is to strengthen it, to modernise it, and to ensure that it remains equal to the demands of the changing world we live in today.

“Our citizens are no longer waiting for promises. They are waiting for results that improve their daily lives.

“They want regional integration not as an aspiration on paper, but as a tangible reality that creates opportunities, expands prosperity, and strengthens security across our region. They want traders to move across borders without unnecessary barriers. They want our young people to find opportunities within our region without feeling compelled to see their future elsewhere in the world.

“They want their families to live in peace, security, and with dignity. They want our women to participate fully and equally in shaping our economies, strengthening our society, and advancing our democratic future.

“When these aspirations become reality, eco-west will truly fulfil its purpose.

“That is the mission of our success. And that is how history is going to judge us.”

He therefore challenged leaders on the need to “draw confidence from all that we have built together, including the free movement of persons, the eco-west passport, our peace support operations, our successful mediation efforts, and our unwavering commitment to constitutional governance in West Africa.

“Indeed, these are enduring achievements that demonstrate what is possible when nations act with unity of purpose, mutual trust, and a shared vision for our region. It is upon this strong foundation that we must now build higher, we must now think bolder, and act with greater resolve to create an eco-west that is more integrated, more resilient, and better equipped to meet the aspirations of our people.”

Speaking on the challenges before the region today, Bio said they “are real, urgent, and increasingly complex. Security threats continue to evolve in both scale and sophistication. Climate change is placing pressure on livelihoods, food security, and communities across our region.

Global economic uncertainty continues to test the resilience of our economy and the well-being of our people. “At the same time, technological change is reshaping every aspect of our society at a pace few could have imagined a few years ago. None of these challenges respects national borders.”

He went on, “Our response cannot be confined to those borders, too. Perhaps the greatest task confronting our community today is the challenge to the very principle upon which ECOWAS was founded. In parts of our region, constitutional order has been disrupted, democratic governance interrupted, and the path to civilian rule remains uncertain.

“These developments extend far beyond the countries directly concerned. They affect the confidence of our citizens, the credibility of our community, and the moral quality of our voice for West Africa. “Our response has been guided by principle, not by expedience.

We have remained steadfast in defending constitutional order while keeping the door to dialogue open in pursuit of peace and constitutional political transitions. We remain unwavering in our conviction that the people of West Africa deserve governments that they choose themselves, that are accountable to them, and committed to serving them.

“Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the future of West Africa will be determined by the challenges we face, but by the courage, the vision, and determination with which we confront them.

“Eco-West Vision 2050 charts our path towards a peaceful, prosperous, inclusive, and resilient community that is built on deeper regional integration, expanded trade and investment, stronger connectivity, greater innovation, and wider opportunity for every citizen. The greatest strength of West Africa has always been its people. This is reflected in the resilience of our women, the ingenuity of our entrepreneurs, and the ambition, talent, and energy of our young people.

“If we invest wisely in education, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship, our greatest export will no longer be raw materials. It will be our talent, our ideas, and our leadership that contribute not only to Africa’s progress but also to the prosperity of the world. More than 60% of our population is under the age of 25.

“They are not simply leaders of tomorrow. They are the greatest opportunity of today, the young people. Our responsibility is to equip them with the education, skills, opportunities, and enabling environment they need to innovate, create, lead, and prosper here in West Africa.

“We must also continue to empower the women of West Africa to participate fully in driving economic growth, strengthening communities, advancing peace, and shaping our collective future.”

He also challenged the President of the ECOWAS Commission, the Vice President, the Commissioners, and the Management Team to “Let every corridor reflect integrity. Let every office inspire excellence.

Let every meeting produce solutions. Let every decision strengthen the confidence of the people of this community that we serve.”

He added, “And may this headquarters be remembered not for the beauty of its architecture, but for the wisdom of its decisions.

Not for the offices that it contains, but for the lives it improves. And not for its scale, but for the quality of service and the impact of its work. Serve every member state with professionalism, impartiality, and respect.

Serve every citizen with dedication, humility, and purpose. In every decision that we make in this building, place the interests of the people of West Africa above all else. Public trust is never inherited.

It is earned each day through integrity, accountability, transparency, and excellence. Let these principles define this institution. Uphold them, protect them, never compromise them.

“Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the enduring strength of ECOWAS has never rested solely on the institutions that we have built. It rests on the confidence that the people of West Africa place in those institutions. That confidence must never be taken for granted.

It must be earned, sustained, and renewed through leadership that delivers peace, opportunity, and tangible progress.”

While noting that the first 50 years of ECOWAS were devoted to laying the foundations of regional integration, President Bio said, “The next 50 years must be defined by a greater purpose, transforming those foundations into lasting prosperity, shared security, and wider opportunity for every citizen of our community.

“Future generations will inherit these headquarters. When they stand where we stood today, they will not ask how impressive this building looked on the day of inauguration. They will ask what was achieved within the walls.

“They will ask, did this generation preserve peace? Did it expand opportunity? Did it protect democracy? Did it deepen regional integration? Did it leave West Africa stronger than it was when it was founded? Let our answers be unequivocal, yes. Let it be said that we honour the vision of our founders and remain faithful to the ideas upon which this community was established. Let it be said that we advanced peace, expanded opportunity, strengthened regional integration, and left ECOWAS more united, more resilient, and stronger than we founded.

Buildings may endure for generations. Their true legacy is measured by the lives they improve and the future that they help to shape. So as we inaugurate these headquarters today, may it always be the place where dialogue prevails over division, cooperation over conflict, and hope over despair.

“May it inspire every generation to build a West Africa that is more peaceful, more prosperous, and more united. And may it stand for generations as a lasting symbol of African unity, regional solidarity, and our sheer determination to build a brighter future for our children.”

In his remarks, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, described the inauguration as “a truly historic milestone” in the life of ECOWAS, noting that the headquarters represents the fulfilment of a vision conceived during the groundbreaking ceremony in December 2022.

He thanked Xi Jinping for China’s support, saying Beijing had once again demonstrated its commitment to West Africa by providing the regional body with a world-class headquarters.

According to him, China’s contributions to ECOWAS have gone beyond infrastructure, recalling the country’s earlier support for regional peacekeeping by providing strategic military equipment and vehicles for ECOWAS security operations, as well as numerous development interventions across member states.

Touray said the completion of the headquarters within about two years reflected the strength of the partnership between China and ECOWAS.

He also praised Nigeria for its unwavering support as host nation, citing the country’s role in providing land, policy support and institutional backing that made the project possible.

For decades, the ECOWAS Commission operated from offices spread across different locations in Abuja, creating operational and logistical challenges.

Touray said the new integrated complex would significantly improve coordination, efficiency and productivity by bringing Commission staff together under one roof.

He disclosed that the facility consists of a central nine-storey tower flanked by two seven-storey wings and is equipped with modern conference rooms featuring interpretation facilities, archives, kitchenettes, banking halls, restaurants, a clinic, gymnasium, shops and even a daycare centre for nursing mothers.

Despite celebrating the physical accomplishment, the ECOWAS Commission President stressed that infrastructure alone could not guarantee progress.

“Buildings do not deliver transformation; people and institutions do,” he said, urging member states to ensure that the headquarters becomes a centre of excellence that drives innovation, strengthens collaboration and delivers tangible benefits to citizens across the sub-region.

Representing President Xi Jinping, Ambassador Yu described the building as the “Eye of West Africa” and a flagship achievement under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

He said the headquarters reflects China’s enduring support for African integration and demonstrates the strength of China-Africa relations.

The ambassador noted that China continues to pursue cooperation with Africa based on sincerity, mutual respect, friendship and shared development.

He recalled that during the Beijing Summit of FOCAC, China and African leaders adopted an ambitious framework to build an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future, comprising six major pillars and ten partnership actions.

According to Yu, China will continue to support ECOWAS in promoting regional peace, economic development and improved living standards.

He pledged that Beijing would deepen cooperation in infrastructure development, digital economy, agriculture, food security, trade and investment, while fully implementing China’s zero-tariff policy for eligible African exports to strengthen Africa’s productive capacity.

The ambassador also called for stronger cultural, educational, youth, and sporting exchanges, noting that this year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Africa and that it has been designated the Year of China-Africa People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges.

“China remains forever a trustworthy, sincere friend and a reliable partner to ECOWAS and all West African nations,” Yu declared.