Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Freetown, Sierra Leone, to represent President Bola Tinubu at the 69th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Shettima landed at the Freetown International Airport, Lungi, on Sunday, July 19, and was received by Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, alongside senior Nigerian government officials.
Among those who welcomed the Vice President were Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye; and Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Ambassador Ayo Luther-Ogbomode.
Also present at the airport were the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo; Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, Ambassador Olawale Emmanuel Awe; and officials of the Nigerian High Commission in Sierra Leone.
According to a statement issued by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Shettima is attending the regional summit on behalf of President Tinubu.
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The summit, holding at the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre in Freetown on Sunday, will bring together Heads of State and Government from across West Africa, as well as ministers, senior government officials, representatives of regional institutions and business leaders.
Discussions at the meeting are expected to focus on key regional priorities, including peace and security, democratic governance, economic integration, intra-regional trade, infrastructure development and sustainable economic growth.
The leaders are also expected to deliberate on strategic policy decisions and adopt resolutions aimed at strengthening cooperation among ECOWAS member states and addressing emerging political, economic and security challenges confronting the sub-region.
Nigeria, as one of ECOWAS’ founding members and largest economies, is expected to play a prominent role in the deliberations, with the country continuing to advocate stronger regional collaboration in tackling insecurity, promoting democratic stability and advancing economic development across West Africa.