Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday emerged the new chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Buhari was elected in Lome, the capital of Togo, at the 53rd Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS.

Buhari took over the leadership of the regional bloc from his Togolese counterpart Faure Gnassingbe. The election was one of the high points of the ECOWAS Summit.

In his acceptance speech, Buhari pledged to serve and work with his colleagues to deliver on peace, security, good governance and socio-economic development of the sub-region, and take ECOWAS to greater heights.

The next summit of the ECOWAS heads of government will take place in Abuja on Dec. 21.