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 forum. 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 organizing 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 Gambia leader also opined that to him, there is no better time than now for the region to embrace intra-regional cooperation and partnership. “President Barrow expressed his commitment to The Gambia’s active participation at what he considered as a historic gathering that promises to bring a turnaround in the quest for regional integration in Africa. “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. Ebienfa explained that the West Africa Economic Summit is a legacy project and initiative under the auspices of President Tinubu, who is the chairman of the Economic Community of West Africa States. “The Ministry wishes to buttress the fact that the highly anticipated West Africa Economic Summit which will have in attendance Heads of State from the sub-region and an array of business leaders, heads of global institutions and financial experts is expected to create a platform for sustainable economic development and integration,” he stated. In Guinea Bissau, Ebienfa said Odumegwu-Ojukwu was received in audience by the President of Guinea Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, during which Odumegwu-Ojukwu delivered the special invitation from President Tinubu to President Sissoco to attend the First West African Economic Summit. “While delivering the invitation package on Thursday 12th June 2025, the Envoy informed President Sissoco that WAES is a legacy project of President Tinubu, which would revolutionalize the integration process in the region. “Receiving the invitation, President Sissoco thanked President Tinubu for the historic move to bring increased momentum to the integration efforts of the region. He promised to give the Summit his utmost support with a high-quality delegation, which would accompany him to Abuja. “The Envoy and her entourage departed Bissau to Accra, Ghana, in continuation of the assignment,” Ebienfa added.