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President Julius Maada Bio has appointed Hon. Alhaji Dr. Kandeh K. Yumkella as Special Envoy to lead the convening of the upcoming ECOWAS Regional Integration and Investment Summit.
In a letter dated January 23, 2026, and signed by the Secretary to the President, Barba B. Fortune, the Presidency announced that the appointment takes effect immediately.
Dr. Yumkella currently serves as the Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Food Security (PI-CREF).
The proposed summit, themed “Powering Regional Economic Integration,” aims to tackle the pressing issues of political instability and governance challenges across West Africa.
According to the appointment letter, the event will seek to address these issues by “revitalizing economic growth and integration, facilitating cross-country trade, and expanding investment in energy, minerals, and agribusiness markets”.
Acting in his capacity as the Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, President Bio has expressed his intention to co-host the summit alongside President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The event will be organized in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission Secretariat.
Yumkella’s Mandate As Special Envoy, Dr. Yumkella is mandated to lead a newly constituted Steering Committee comprising eight line ministries. His responsibilities will include coordinating efforts with the ECOWAS Commission, development partners, and private sector actors, as well as facilitating cooperation with the co-hosting Nigerian government to ensure the summit’s success.
The Presidency concluded the appointment by emphasizing the significance of the assignment in the broader goal of working towards a “united and prosperous West Africa”.
