Can President Bio Build on Tinubu’s “Deep Sense of Fulfilment” to Shape West Africa’s Future?

On Sunday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu concluded his tenure as Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, passing the mantle of leadership to Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio. His parting words “I do so with a deep sense of fulfilment and of commitment for the future of West Africa” resonated not just as a farewell, but as a call to action.

Tinubu’s one-year stewardship, which began in July 2023, was marked by a mix of ambition and regional diplomacy. He prioritized security, economic integration, and democratic stability. Yet, as he exits, the ECOWAS Standby Force remains a work in progress, regional threats persist, and economic barriers continue to hinder intra-African trade.

Now, all eyes turn to President Bio. The question is: Can he translate Tinubu’s sense of “fulfilment” into tangible progress for West Africa’s future?

Bio inherits a region fraught with challenges terrorism in the Sahel, constitutional breakdowns in member states, youth unemployment, and rising demands for accountability. In his acceptance speech, he rightly acknowledged these pressing issues. “The democratic space is under strain… but our youth are demanding not just elections, but accountability,” he said.

It is encouraging that under Tinubu’s tenure, the ECOWAS Military Logistics Depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone, was completed. This places Bio in a unique position to lead on security coordination. But will he take the bold steps required to operationalise the Standby Force, as Tinubu urged?

Moreover, Bio must accelerate economic integration. Tinubu’s push for the West African Gas Pipeline and the Abidjan–Lagos Corridor Highway were strategic, but incomplete. Continued political will and regional cooperation will be key to unlocking West Africa’s economic potential.

Leadership in ECOWAS has always required more than ceremonial handshakes. It demands courage, clarity, and consensus-building. If President Bio can match Tinubu’s rhetoric with concrete actions particularly in security, diplomacy, and development then West Africa may indeed have a future worth being committed to.

The region is watching. And so is history.