“I handed over ECOWAS leadership to my brother, H.E. Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra-Leone.

 I do so with a deep sense of fulfilment and optimism for the future of West Africa.

“We must remain resolute in our shared mission to deepen integration, protect our people, and build a united region.” Nigerian president revealed in a statement on Sunday.

At 32, Julius Maada Bio ousted his colleague Valentine Strasser to become the military Head of State of Sierra Leone on January 16 1996, Strasser had become president at the age of 25 through a coup.

Bio handed over power to a democratically elected government on March 29, 1996

He was later elected President in 2018 & reelected in 2023

Bio is now the civilian president of Sierra Leone & became the chairman of ECOWAS today