President Bola Tinubu has handed over the chairmanship of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government to President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone.

The handover ceremony took place at the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority in Abuja, Nigeria.

President Tinubu expressed confidence in the region’s continued path toward peace, stability, and prosperity, emphasizing the need for leaders to remain committed to the evolving needs of West African citizens.

During his tenure, President Tinubu noted the complex political and security challenges the region faced.

He called on leaders to deepen cooperation, uphold diplomatic principles, and foster inclusive growth that leaves no one behind.

President Tinubu commended the ECOWAS Commission and community institutions for their dedication and professionalism in supporting the Authority’s work.

In his remarks, President Bio outlined four key priorities for his tenure: restoring constitutional order and deepening democracy, revitalizing regional security cooperation, unlocking economic integration, and building institutional credibility.

He pledged to lead a renewed, people-centred, and action-oriented ECOWAS in the face of unprecedented challenges and opportunities for the West African region.

President Bio acknowledged the complexities of the current moment, citing terrorism, illicit arms flow, political instability, and transnational crime as major threats to the region.

He emphasized the need for ECOWAS to reform itself to become more transparent, efficient, and responsive to the needs of its people.

The Netherlands has officially returned 119 ancient sculptures stolen from the former Nigerian kingdom of Benin over 120 years ago during the colonial era.

The artefacts, known as the Benin Bronzes, are a significant part of Nigeria’s cultural heritage.

Olugbile Holloway, director-general of Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments, described the artefacts as “embodiments of the spirit and identity of the people from which they were taken from.”

The return of the Benin Bronzes is part of a growing trend of Western governments returning items taken during imperialism.

Germany has also agreed to return over 1,000 additional pieces.

The artefacts will be shared between the National Museum in Lagos and the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, the traditional ruler of the Kingdom of Benin in southern Nigeria.

The Benin Bronzes, which include metal and ivory sculptures dating back to the 16th to 18th centuries, were stolen in 1897 when British forces ransacked the Benin kingdom.

Nigeria formally requested the return of hundreds of objects from museums worldwide in 2022, and this return is a significant step towards restitution.

Aisha Braveboy has officially taken office as the new County Executive of Prince George’s County, Maryland, after being sworn in during a ceremony held on Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

During her inaugural address, Braveboy emphasized unity and inclusivity, promising to be a voice for all residents.

One of Braveboy’s first acts as County Executive was to appoint George Nader as the new police chief, replacing Chief Malik Aziz.

Nader, a familiar face in the department, previously served as deputy chief in Prince George’s County and has worked with the Metro Transit Police Department.

Braveboy praised Nader’s community roots, saying, “He is going to be a tremendous chief for the people.”

Braveboy also highlighted the need to make Prince George’s County more business-friendly by streamlining the zoning and permitting process.

“I am going to be laser-focused on that because that is what’s keeping us out of the game for some of the big development projects,” she said. “It just takes simply too long to build here in Prince George’s County.”

The County Executive also addressed concerns from the immigrant community, assuring them that she would stand up for law-abiding citizens.

“Those who may be undocumented or otherwise law-abiding citizens, I have your back,” she said.

Nader outlined his vision for the police department, emphasizing a “community-first mentality.”

He plans to assess the department’s needs and review recruitment practices to ensure the police force has the necessary support.