President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone has named Hon. Alhaji Dr. Kandeh K. Yumkella as Special Envoy for the ECOWAS Regional Integration and Investment Summit.
The appointment, effective immediately, was detailed in a letter from the Office of the President dated January 23, 2026.
The summit focuses on powering regional economic integration. It aims to tackle political instability and governance challenges by boosting economic growth, cross-border trade, and investments in energy, minerals, and agribusiness.
As ECOWAS Chairman, President Bio wants to co-host the event with Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, working with the ECOWAS Commission.
Dr. Yumkella will lead a Steering Committee of eight ministries, the co-host government, other governments, partners, and private sector groups to plan the summit.
The letter, signed by Secretary to the President, Barba B. Fortune, congratulated Dr. Yumkella on the role.
Dr. Yumkella, born July 5, 1959, is a Sierra Leonean economist and politician. He chairs the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Food Security. His past roles include UN Under-Secretary-General, UNIDO Director-General, and founder of The Energy Nexus Network.
The appointment has drawn positive feedback on social media. Dr. Yumkella recently briefed Presidents Bio and Tinubu on the summit’s goals.
This comes as ECOWAS pushes for stronger ties and self-reliance. Regional trade remains low at under 10%, with calls for more action in energy and other areas.
Dr. Yumkella’s expertise could drive real progress for West Africa’s stability and growth.