Foreign Affairs Minister Hosts High-Level Roundtable in Lagos to Engage Business Leaders Ahead of West Africa Economic Summit
By Ameh Gabriel
In a significant move to place the private sector at the centre of regional economic integration, Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, convened a high-powered Private Sector Roundtable in Lagos today, 4th June 2025.
Held at the prestigious Metropolitan Club, Victoria Island, the Roundtable brought together some of Nigeria’s most influential business leaders to deliberate on the upcoming West Africa Economic Summit (WAES 2025), scheduled to take place from 20–21 June in Abuja.
In his opening remarks, Amb. Tuggar underscored the pivotal role of private enterprise in shaping sustainable economic policies across the region. “WAES is not just about policy, it’s about practical solutions. Your voice will shape the outcomes,” he told the gathered leaders, encouraging open discussions around the trade, infrastructure, and regulatory barriers hindering growth in West Africa.
The engagement marks a strategic shift in Nigeria’s approach to regional cooperation one that recognizes the private sector not just as a stakeholder, but as a co-architect of economic transformation.
Discussions at the Roundtable covered a range of topics critical to West Africa’s development, including cross-border trade, harmonized regulations, industrialization, and leveraging public-private partnerships to close infrastructure gaps.
Organizers of WAES 2025 say the insights from this Roundtable will directly inform the Summit’s agenda, ensuring the conversations in Abuja are grounded in real-world business needs and opportunities.
Registration for the Summit is now open via www.waes2025.org, and momentum continues to build ahead of what is expected to be one of the most consequential economic dialogues in the region.
Stay tuned as the road to WAES 2025 continues.
#WAES2025 #StrongerTogether #WestAfricaRising
