Trade, innovation key to West Africa’s economic future —ECOWAS Parliament

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has emphasised that trade and innovation will be critical to shaping West Africa’s economic future.

It urged citizens and businesses across the subregion to take greater advantage of regional integration frameworks designed to promote cross-border commerce and economic cooperation.

The call was made on Thursday in Abuja during the launch of the ECOWAS Parliament @25 year-long commemorative programme, organised by the Parliament in partnership with Duchess Naturals Limited, CMD Tourism & Trade Enterprise, and Borderless Trade & Investment.

Kabeer Garba, Director of Parliamentary Affairs and Research at the ECOWAS Parliament, who represented Mémounatou Ibrahima, stressed that regional economic initiatives must translate into tangible improvements in the welfare and livelihoods of citizens across member states.

Ibrahima explained that the Parliament was created to ensure that West Africans benefit directly from regional programmes and policies, including the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the bloc’s free movement protocol.

“The Parliament is supposed to represent the people of the West African region. Our greatest strength as an ECOWAS institution is the fact that we represent the people. We are providing a voice for the people,” she said.

She noted, however, that a major obstacle to regional integration remains limited awareness among traders and citizens about the economic opportunities available under ECOWAS policies.

According to Ibrahima, the trade liberalisation scheme allows traders to move goods across borders and establish businesses in other member states, adding that greater participation by entrepreneurs and citizens is essential for the success of the region’s economic integration agenda.

“The idea is that the Parliament should be able to conscientize the people and carry them along so that they take maximum advantage of these programmes that exist within ECOWAS,” she said.

Ibrahima further stressed that trade and innovation would play a central role in the anniversary celebrations, noting that regional initiatives must deliver tangible benefits to ordinary citizens.

“ECOWAS is not meaningful to the people if it does not boost their welfare. If we are talking about trade and innovation, that is very key because beyond explaining the programmes, we also have to think about how the people will fare and how to put food on their table,” she added.

Also speaking, Victoria Akai, Chief Executive Officer of Duchess Naturals Limited, said the private sector was partnering with the ECOWAS Parliament to translate regional policies into practical economic opportunities for businesses and citizens.

Akai explained that the anniversary programme would focus on strengthening trade, entrepreneurship and innovation across West Africa.

“As the private sector continues to expand its role across trade, innovation and investment, ECOWAS institutions remain critical partners in shaping a more integrated and prosperous regional economy,” she said.

She added that the year-long programme would bring together policymakers, entrepreneurs, innovators and young people from several member states.

According to her, the programme will feature initiatives such as the ECOWAS Smart Challenge, regional trade forums and community outreach campaigns aimed at strengthening economic cooperation within the subregion.

“For us in the private sector, ECOWAS at 25 represents more than a celebration. It is an opportunity to strengthen partnerships that translate regional policy into real economic opportunity for citizens and businesses across West Africa,” Akai said.

In her remarks, Olori Boye-Ajayi, Managing Partner of Borderless Trade and Investment, said the anniversary programme would serve as a platform to deepen collaboration among policymakers, entrepreneurs and financial institutions across the region.

She explained that the initiative would bring together stakeholders from several ECOWAS countries to explore new opportunities for cross-border commerce.

“What we intend to do is to bring together policymakers, entrepreneurs, innovators, youth and civil society to deepen regional collaboration,” she said.

Boye-Ajayi disclosed that business-to-business forums and policy dialogues would be organised in cities including Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Accra, Lomé, Freetown, Abuja and Lagos to facilitate trade and investment.

She added that the activities would take place across several countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Cabo Verde, Togo and Sierra Leone.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the briefing, Biodun Ariyo, Head of Global Trade and Structured Finance at Providus Bank, said financial institutions also have a crucial role in supporting regional trade growth.

Ariyo said banks were partnering with regional institutions to expand trade financing and facilitate cross-border transactions among businesses.

“One of the key ingredients is trade, and that’s why we are quite happy to partner with the ECOWAS Parliament as well as other institutions that are part of it,” he said.

According to him, platforms that connect businesses across borders are essential for expanding economic activity in the region.

“Trade spread needs some networking, and this is just a channel to get that done because essentially, if there is no exchange of goods, services and ideas, there will be no need for trade,” Ariyo added.

He noted that the partnership would enable the bank to support cross-border commerce and improve financial access for businesses operating within the region.

The ECOWAS Parliament was created to give citizens of West Africa representation in the regional integration process following the signing of the protocol establishing it on August 6, 1994.

Its first legislature was inaugurated on November 16, 2000, in Bamako.

The anniversary programme, as disclosed, will culminate in a closing ceremony scheduled for November 2026 in Abuja.