ECOWAS Appoints Aliko Dangote as Inaugural Chair of New Business Council

ECOWAS Appoints Aliko Dangote as Inaugural Chair of New Business Council

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has appointed Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote as the first-ever chairman of its newly established ECOWAS Business Council (EBC), a strategic platform created to deepen private sector participation in regional economic development.

The EBC is expected to serve as the primary interface between ECOWAS institutions and the region’s business community, with a mandate to boost intra-regional trade, promote investment, and accelerate economic integration across West Africa. By engaging leading industry players, the council aims to address structural barriers to commerce, strengthen value chains, and champion reforms that enhance the competitiveness of the region’s economies.

Dangote, one of Africa’s most influential business figures, brings decades of experience in manufacturing, infrastructure, and regional trade. His appointment signals ECOWAS’s intent to leverage private sector leadership in driving sustainable growth and advancing the bloc’s economic agenda.

With the establishment of the council, ECOWAS says it hopes to unlock greater collaboration between governments and businesses, paving the way for a more integrated and prosperous West African market.