Tinubu emerges as new ECOWAS chair, calls for regional security
Tamarauemi Ebimini
President Bola Tinubu has emerged as the new chairperson of ECOWAS.
He takes over from the President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embalo, who has just finished his tenure at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government on Sunday in Bissau, the capital city of Guinea-Bissau.
The summit is the first international engagement of President Tinubu on the African continent since his swearing-in on 29 May.
Accepting the responsibility to lead the body, a statement on Sunday by the President’s spokesperson, Dele Alake, quoted Mr Tinubu as saying that he would run an inclusive administration, noting, however, that insecurity and creeping terrorism were stunting the progress and development of the region.
President Tinubu called for collective action from member-states, pledging that under his leadership, frameworks would be harmonised to actualise the dreams of ECOWAS.
The new ECOWAS Chairman called for improved private sector participation in the effort towards the economic development of Member States as well as their social integration.
He appreciated the Authority of Heads of States and citizens of the Community for trusting him to lead the West African body.
