Tinubu Advocates Manufacturing at ECOWAS HQ Inauguration

On Thursday, President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the new ECOWAS headquarters in Abuja, urging West African nations to accelerate industrialization and build a product-driven regional economy. He described the headquarters as a significant architectural achievement representing resilience and unity for the region.

Tinubu noted that ECOWAS has gained global recognition for its democratic governance and peacebuilding efforts but cautioned that the sub-region faces challenges such as terrorism, violent extremism, food insecurity, and climate change. He called on member states to strengthen local manufacturing and transform the region into a product-based economy.

Tinubu also acknowledged the financial support from the government of China for the project and praised ECOWAS Chairman Julius Bio for his leadership during challenging times. ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray expressed gratitude for China's partnership, highlighting the new headquarters as a symbol of regional integration and cooperation.