The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has selected industrialist Alhaji Aliko Dangote as the inaugural chairman of its new private-sector advisory body, the ECOWAS Business Council (EBC).
The announcement was made in Abuja on Wednesday by ECOWAS President, Dr. Omar Touray, during the 95th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers.
The EBC is designed to operate as an autonomous platform that strengthens engagement between businesses and ECOWAS institutions. According to ECOWAS, the council will help promote cross-border trade, attract investment, and accelerate economic integration across West Africa.
Touray noted that Dangote’s track record in building large-scale enterprises across multiple African markets made him the preferred choice to lead the council. He added that the region is already witnessing a rise in intra-regional investment initiatives.
He referenced several recent economic gatherings—Forum Senegal Invest, the West African Economic Summit in Nigeria, and Côte d’Ivoire’s Invest in District Savanes—as signs that West African countries are beginning to leverage opportunities within the sub-region.
Touray said the growing willingness to invest locally highlights the importance of mobilising regional capital instead of relying solely on external funding. He expressed confidence that business leaders like Dangote can drive meaningful development when given the right support and policy environment.
According to him, the EBC will serve as a central venue for companies, government bodies, and ECOWAS organs to collaborate on regional growth, deepen economic ties, and address barriers to private-sector participation.
