Abuja, 21 June 2025 – President Bola Tinubu has called on West African leaders to harness the region’s youthful population and vast mineral resources to drive economic transformation through industrialisation, education, and innovation. However, his ambitious vision, delivered at the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) in Abuja, has been criticised for lacking specific policies and underestimating political and structural challenges.
Tinubu, who chairs the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, described the region’s youthful demographic as its greatest asset. “This demographic promise can quickly become a liability if not matched by investments in education, digital infrastructure, innovation, and productive enterprise,” he warned. West Africa’s median age of around 18 offers a demographic dividend, but critics note that Tinubu failed to outline funding mechanisms or priority areas to translate this potential into reality.
Emphasising regional cooperation, Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s efforts in skills development and digital connectivity, stressing that no single country can succeed alone. “Our prosperity depends on regional supply chains, energy networks, and data frameworks. We must design them together—or they will collapse separately,” he said. Yet, the statement overlooks the complexities of harmonising diverse economic priorities and political systems across West Africa, with no clear mechanisms proposed to address disputes or regulatory differences.
The president expressed concern over intra-regional trade, which remains below 10 per cent, urging leaders to dismantle trade barriers. “We must coordinate or collapse in the race for global economic relevance,” he said. While this aligns with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) objectives, analysts argue that entrenched issues like poor infrastructure and non-tariff barriers require more than rhetorical calls for coordination.
Tinubu advocated moving beyond raw material exports to value-added industries, noting, “Our rare minerals power tomorrow’s green technologies, yet being resource-rich is not enough; we must also become value-chain smart and invest in local processing and regional manufacturing.” He called for an end to the “pit to port” model to create jobs and technology within the region. However, the absence of a roadmap to tackle systemic issues like corruption and bureaucratic inefficiencies, which deter private investment, weakens this vision.
The private sector’s role was underscored, with Tinubu stating, “The fundamental transformation will not come solely from government, but from unleashing our people’s entrepreneurial spirit.” He urged governments to provide “law, order, and market-friendly policies.” Critics, however, point out that this oversimplifies the region’s challenging business environment, marked by governance deficits and judicial delays, with no mention of how to address these entrenched problems.
Tinubu’s call for opportunities for “youth and women” was also critiqued for lacking specificity on inclusive policies to address gender disparities or rural marginalisation, risking an uneven economic transformation. He urged summit participants—heads of state, policymakers, business leaders, and development partners—to commit to improving the business climate, enhancing trade, and fostering infrastructure connectivity. “Our task is to find new and effective ways to invest in our collective future,” he said, charging them with building an investable, competitive, and resilient West Africa.
While Tinubu’s vision positions West Africa as a potential hub for green technologies, leveraging minerals like lithium and cobalt, critics warn of over-optimism. Historical constraints, such as weak institutions, and ongoing challenges like political will and funding gaps were not adequately addressed. For the summit’s actionable outcomes to succeed, analysts argue that West African leaders must complement Tinubu’s rhetoric with detailed policies, robust funding, and inclusive strategies to ensure tangible progress.
