From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
As the federal government prepares for the forthcoming West Africa Economic Summit in Abuja, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has dispatched the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, as Special Envoy to invite the Presidents of Gambia, Senegal, Guinea Bissau and Ghana to the economic summit.
The event billed to take place from June 20-21, 2025, will hold at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.
The spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, in a statement issued in Abuja, said Odumegwu-Ojukwu and members of her delegation met with the President of The Gambia, Adama Barrow and presented President Tinubu’s official invitation letter on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 in the capital city, Banjul.
Ebienfa also said the presentation was preceded by a very warm reception, accorded the special envoy and her team.
“On receiving the invitation from the special envoy, the Gambian President thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the proactive and timely initiative in organising a regional summit where West African leaders and the key stakeholders from various sectors in the region will assemble to discuss intra-regional trade and investment.
He observed that global reality no longer supports donor-recipient relations, given the glaring donor fatigue posturing by the West.
“The Special envoy and her team also visited Dakar, Senegal on Tuesday, 10th June 2025 to deliver the special invitation from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the Senegalese leader and were received by a high-ranking official of the Government,” Ebienfa said.
In Guinea Bissau, Ebienfa said, the President of Guinea Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, received Odumegwu-Ojukwu in audience, during which Odumegwu-Ojukwu delivered the special invitation from President Tinubu to President Sissoco to attend the First West African Economic Summit.