Keypoints:
- Dangote to chair new ECOWAS council
- Bloc seeks deeper private-sector involvement
- Intra-regional investment drive accelerates
ECOWAS has appointed Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote as the inaugural chairman of its newly constituted ECOWAS Business Council, underscoring the bloc’s intention to deepen private-sector participation in West Africa’s economic integration process. The announcement was made by ECOWAS Commission president Omar Touray during the opening of the ninety-fifth ordinary session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Abuja on December 10.
Touray said the council will operate as a strategic bridge between businesses, governments, and ECOWAS institutions, positioning the private sector as a central driver of regional growth. He emphasised that Dangote’s appointment demonstrates the commission’s confidence in his long-standing track record in building large-scale African enterprises and fostering cross-border economic collaboration.
Private sector at the centre of regional strategy
Touray told ministers that the new council would help reset how the bloc engages with economic actors who are key to delivering sustainable development. ‘I’m happy to report that Alhaji Aliko Dangote has accepted this regional role,’ he said, noting that his experience makes him well suited to guide the council through its formative stages.
The initiative comes amid rising interest in intra-regional investment, with Touray highlighting recent platforms such as the Forum Senegal Invest in Senegal, the West African Economic Summit in Nigeria, and the Invest in District Savanes meeting in Cote d’Ivoire. He added that Sierra Leone has submitted a proposal to host a West Africa Economic Investment Summit, signalling increased competition among member states eager to attract capital.
Council designed to scale regional trade and investment
According to the ECOWAS Commission, the Business Council is expected to provide the structure necessary for private-sector leaders to collaborate on trade, infrastructure, and wider economic opportunities. Officials argue that the region must channel more local capital into transformative projects rather than continuing to depend heavily on external financing.
Touray expressed confidence that Dangote would help shape a more competitive and integrated West African market, drawing on his experience in manufacturing, cement production, and pan-African investment. The council is expected to begin consultations early next year, ahead of broader discussions on trade reforms and industrialisation.
