ECOWAS has appointed Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, as the first chairman of the newly established ECOWAS Business Council, highlighting the bloc’s push to deepen private-sector participation in West Africa’s economic integration.
The announcement was made by Omar Touray, president of the ECOWAS Commission, during the ninety-fifth ordinary session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Abuja on Wednesday, December 10.
The council is designed to act as a bridge between businesses, governments, and ECOWAS institutions, aiming to enhance subregional trade and mobilise West African capital for development.
Touray said the appointment reflects Dangote’s extensive experience in building large-scale enterprises across the continent.
“I’m happy to report that Alhaji Aliko Dangote has accepted this regional role,” he said, adding that the council will bring private sector actors into central discussions on economic integration.
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Touray noted a rising interest in intra-regional investment, citing recent initiatives such as the Forum Senegal Invest in Senegal, the West African Economic Summit in Nigeria, and the Invest in District Savanes meeting in Côte d’Ivoire.
He also revealed that Sierra Leone has proposed hosting its own West Africa Economic Investment Summit, as seen on Business Insider Africa.
The ECOWAS Commission emphasised that growing homegrown investment highlights the need for a structured platform for regional businesses to collaborate on trade, infrastructure, and cross-border projects.
Touray expressed confidence in Dangote’s ability to guide the council through its early stages and foster a more competitive, interconnected West African market.
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Image Credit: African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc
