From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has appointed business magnate, Aliko Dangote, the Chairman of the Dangote Group, as the pioneer Chairman of its newly established Business Council (EBC).
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, announced the appointment at the opening of the 95th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Abuja on Wednesday.
Touray highlighted that Dangote’s extensive experience in business across West Africa and the African continent made him the ideal candidate to lead the council.
The EBC, an independent platform established by ECOWAS member states, aims to empower the private sector, promote regional trade, attract investment, and advance economic integration by bridging the gap between businesses and policymakers.
“The Council will provide a forum for private sector actors to discuss economic integration, regional development, and foster partnerships among private sector players, government agencies, and ECOWAS institutions”, Touray said.
He further noted that there is growing interest in intra-regional investment among member states, citing events such as the Forum Senegal Invest, the West African Economic Summit in Nigeria, and the Invest in District Savanes forum in Côte d’Ivoire.
“This appetite for intra-regional investment underscores the need to mobilise capital within our region rather than rely solely on foreign investments. With the leadership of investors like Alhaji Dangote, our regional private sector can drive the development of our community if provided with the right incentives”, he added.
The Council’s agenda at the meeting included deliberations on the annual work programme and budget of ECOWAS institutions, financial matters, implementation of the community levy protocol, and audit reports from the Auditor General and Audit Committee of ECOWAS.
In a related development, ECOWAS commended Nigeria for its swift intervention in preventing the attempted military takeover in the Benin Republic.
Speaking at the 55th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council, Touray praised Nigeria’s rapid deployment of support forces as instrumental in safeguarding President Patrice Talon and democratic governance in the subregion.
“For the speed and commitment shown, Nigeria deserves a standing ovation. This is what regional solidarity should look like if we are determined to protect democracy”, he said.
