President Bola Tinubu has handed over the leadership of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio.
The transition happened on Sunday during the 67th Ordinary Session of the bloc’s Heads of State and Government, which took place in Abuja.
Tinubu’s handover brought his two-term tenure as chairman of the regional body to an end.
He was first chosen for the role in Guinea-Bissau in July 2023 and reappointed in 2024 during a meeting in Abuja.
His time in office focused on handling political transitions, regional security, and cooperation among member states.
There had been earlier speculation that Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye would be the new chair following a private discussion held before the official session.
However, Bio was eventually announced as the next leader of the group.
President Bio, upon assuming office, listed four goals for his leadership: strengthening democracy, boosting regional security cooperation, promoting economic ties, and improving institutional trust.
Tinubu, in his final remarks, thanked the leaders of the region for trusting him with the role for two years.
He called on the new leadership and other ECOWAS members to continue working together to maintain peace and development across the region.
He also urged them to remain alert to changes and challenges affecting the people of West Africa, especially in areas of youth development, women’s welfare, and protection of vulnerable populations.
