Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has emphasized the urgent need for greater collaboration between West African governments and the private sector to enhance regional economic competitiveness.
Tuggar made the remarks on Tuesday during a high-level private sector roundtable held in Lagos, ahead of the upcoming West Africa Economic Summit (WAES). Themed “United Voice: The Power of Private Sector Participation in the West African Economic Summit,” the gathering brought together leading CEOs and business leaders from across the region.
Describing the event as more than a mere precursor to the summit, Tuggar called it a “definitive shift” in how economic policy is shaped in West Africa.
“The private sector is not peripheral, but central to economic governance,” Tuggar stated. “Its role is vital in shaping West Africa’s future prosperity.”
His remarks align with broader continental goals, especially the ambitions of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to unify African markets and boost the continent’s global competitiveness through trade integration and industrial growth.
The roundtable discussions are expected to inform key outcomes at the WAES and drive long-term strategies for regional economic resilience, job creation, and cross-border investment.
