President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Special Envoy, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, was officially received by President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire on Friday, June 13, 2025, at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan.
The visit was part of preparations for the upcoming West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) 2025, scheduled to hold in Abuja from June 20–21, 2025. Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu delivered a formal letter from President Tinubu, inviting President Ouattara to participate in the summit.
The Special Envoy was accompanied by Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs, along with Ambassador John Ejinaka and Ambassador Ahmed Sule.
During the meeting, Ambassador Bianca emphasized that WAES 2025 aims to bring together top government and industry leaders across West Africa. She said the summit will promote regional economic cooperation, sustainable development, and trade integration under the theme: “Unlocking Trade and Investment Opportunities in the Region.”
President Ouattara welcomed the invitation and praised the initiative as timely. He also commended President Tinubu for his leadership and reaffirmed Côte d’Ivoire’s commitment to regional collaboration and economic growth.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has described the meeting as a significant step toward strengthening regional unity and advancing economic prosperity across West Africa.
