West Africa’s largest economic bloc has appointed Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote as the inaugural chairman of the newly established ECOWAS Business Council (EBC), a move expected to strengthen private-sector participation and accelerate regional economic integration.
The announcement was made by ECOWAS President Dr Omar Touray during the 95th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers held in Abuja on Wednesday. The EBC is designed as an independent platform to bring businesses and policymakers together across West Africa.
According to ECOWAS, the council will play a crucial role in expanding intra-regional trade, encouraging investment, and supporting the bloc’s long-term economic vision. Touray said Dangote’s appointment was based on his extensive business experience and his influence across multiple African markets.
He highlighted a growing appetite for cross-border investments within the region, noting the success of recent forums such as Senegal Invest, the West African Economic Summit in Nigeria, and Côte d’Ivoire’s “Invest in District Savanes” initiative.
Touray stressed that West Africa must maximise local investment opportunities instead of relying on what he described as “precarious foreign investments.” He expressed confidence that regional private-sector leaders like Dangote could drive economic transformation if given adequate support.
Through the EBC, ECOWAS aims to facilitate dialogue between businesses, government agencies and the bloc’s institutions, with the ultimate goal of creating a more integrated and investment-friendly West African market.
The council is expected to become a central platform for private-sector collaboration, innovation, and policy advocacy across the 15-member region.
