Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has named Nigerian business magnate Aliko Dangote as the inaugural chairman of its newly launched ECOWAS Business Council (EBC), a move designed to strengthen private sector participation and accelerate economic integration across the subregion. The announcement, made during the 95th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Abuja, signals a strategic effort by the regional bloc to leverage private sector expertise in driving growth, trade, and investment among member states.
The ECOWAS Business Council is conceived as a platform to bring together leading business leaders from across West Africa to engage directly with policymakers. Its primary objectives include enhancing regional trade, mobilizing investments, fostering cross-border entrepreneurship, and creating a more coordinated approach to economic development within the community. By formally integrating business perspectives into regional economic planning, ECOWAS aims to bridge gaps between public policy and private sector needs.
Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, emphasized the significance of Dangote’s appointment, highlighting his experience as one of Africa’s most successful industrialists and his extensive network across the continent. Touray noted that the council would serve as a bridge between governments and businesses, promoting sustainable economic growth through collaborative planning and action. “I’m happy to report that Alhaji Aliko Dangote has accepted this regional role,” Touray said, underscoring the council’s mission to mobilize private sector actors toward shared objectives of economic integration and development.
Aliko Dangote, widely recognized as Africa’s richest individual, commands a business empire spanning cement, sugar, petrochemicals, and agriculture. His experience in managing large-scale enterprises and championing intra-African trade positions him to provide strategic guidance to the council. Analysts suggest his leadership could catalyze private investment, improve regional value chains, and strengthen intra-community trade networks, all of which are essential for ECOWAS’s long-term economic vision.
The creation of the Business Council comes at a time when West Africa faces both opportunities and challenges in regional integration. ECOWAS has been actively promoting initiatives to harmonize policies, modernize infrastructure, and increase intra-regional commerce. Historically, private sector engagement has been limited, but the establishment of the EBC seeks to correct this by giving business leaders a direct role in shaping regional economic priorities.
Economic observers have highlighted that leveraging influential entrepreneurs like Dangote could help overcome structural barriers that have long hindered West African trade, including fragmented markets, limited access to financing, and logistical challenges. By formally involving business stakeholders, ECOWAS hopes to foster a more competitive and resilient economic environment while encouraging investment from both domestic and international sources.
Dangote’s appointment is expected to be a catalyst for promoting sustainable industrial growth, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, and encouraging cross-border collaborations. The council is poised to serve as a central forum for discussing regional trade policies, investment opportunities, and sector-specific challenges, providing actionable recommendations to ECOWAS member states.
While operational details, including governance structures, membership criteria, and sectoral priorities, are yet to be fully disclosed, stakeholders remain optimistic that the council under Dangote’s leadership will become a practical engine for economic integration and growth in West Africa. Experts believe that this initiative could transform private sector engagement from a peripheral role into a central driver of policy and investment, aligning closely with ECOWAS’s broader goals of sustainable development and regional cooperation.
The appointment of Aliko Dangote as the first chairman of the ECOWAS Business Council marks a historic step in West Africa’s economic journey, positioning the private sector as a key partner in realizing the region’s economic potential and strengthening the foundations of cross-border commerce.
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