ECOWAS, Dangote Join Forces to Fast‑Track Regional Business Council

By Ifeyinwa Ike

The ECOWAS Commission held a high‑level working visit with ECOWAS Business Council Chairman, Aliko Dangote at Dangote Group headquarters in Lagos.

The is as part of efforts to fast‑track the operationalisation of the ECOWAS Business Council (EBC).

The delegation was led by Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Dr. Kalilou Sylla and Commissioner for Internal Services Dr. Habib Yaya Bappah, and included Gerard Amoi Amangoua, Technical President of the EBC Technical Working Group (TWG), alongside other TWG members.

Discussions centred on turning the EBC into a functioning strategic platform to deepen private‑sector participation in implementing the ECOWAS regional market and to accelerate economic integration across West Africa.

Participants focused on governance arrangements, a rollout timetable and targeted initiatives to remove practical barriers to cross‑border trade, attract investment and align public‑private efforts.

Commission sources said the meeting marked a key step toward detailed operational plans from the TWG and wider consultations with businesses and stakeholders across member states.,