The ECOWAS Parliament has said trade and innovation will play a decisive role in shaping West Africa’s economic future, urging businesses and citizens across the region to take advantage of integration policies designed to boost cross-border commerce.
The call was made on Thursday in Abuja during the launch of the ECOWAS Parliament @25 year-long commemorative programme, organised in partnership with Duchess Naturals Limited, CMD Tourism & Trade Enterprise and Borderless Trade & Investment.
Regional policies must benefit citizens
Speaking at the event, Director of Parliamentary Affairs and Research at the ECOWAS Parliament, Kabeer Garba, who represented the Speaker, Mémounatou Ibrahima, said regional economic policies must translate into real improvements in livelihoods across member states.
Ibrahima noted that the Parliament was established to ensure West Africans benefit directly from regional frameworks such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the bloc’s free movement protocol.
“The Parliament represents the people of the West African region. Our greatest strength as an ECOWAS institution is that we provide a voice for the people,” she said.
However, she noted that limited awareness among traders and citizens remains one of the biggest obstacles to deeper regional integration.
According to her, the trade liberalisation framework allows businesses to move goods across borders and establish operations in other ECOWAS countries, but many entrepreneurs are yet to fully utilise the opportunity.
“The idea is that the Parliament should conscientise the people and carry them along so they can take maximum advantage of these programmes,” she added.
Private sector partnership
Chief Executive Officer of Duchess Naturals Limited, Victoria Akai, said the private sector was partnering with the ECOWAS Parliament to translate regional policies into practical economic opportunities.
She explained that the anniversary programme would focus on trade, entrepreneurship and innovation, bringing together policymakers, businesses, innovators and young people from across West Africa.
Key activities planned include the ECOWAS Smart Challenge, regional trade forums and community outreach programmes aimed at strengthening economic collaboration.
“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,” Akai said.
Regional trade dialogues across West Africa
Managing Partner of Borderless Trade & Investment, Olori Boye-Ajayi, said the programme would serve as a platform to deepen collaboration among policymakers, entrepreneurs, youth and civil society groups.
She revealed that business-to-business forums and policy dialogues will be held in major cities including Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Accra, Lomé, Freetown, Abuja and Lagos.
The initiative will involve stakeholders from several ECOWAS countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Cabo Verde, Togo and Sierra Leone.
Financial sector support
Head of Global Trade and Structured Finance at Providus Bank, Biodun Ariyo, said financial institutions also have a crucial role to play in facilitating cross-border trade and investment.
According to him, banks are working with regional institutions to expand trade financing and simplify cross-border transactions for businesses.
“If there is no exchange of goods, services and ideas, there will be no need for trade,” Ariyo said, adding that networking platforms are essential to regional commerce.
ECOWAS Parliament at 25
The ECOWAS Parliament was established following the signing of the protocol creating it on August 6, 1994, to give citizens a voice in the region’s integration process.
Its first legislature was inaugurated on November 16, 2000, in Bamako, the capital of Mali.
Organisers said the year-long anniversary activities will culminate in a closing ceremony scheduled for November 2026 in Abuja, marking 25 years of the regional legislative body and its role in promoting economic integration across West Africa.
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