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ECOWAS IS SET TO AWARD WEST AFRICA’S 60 MOST PROMISING START-UPS THIS WEEK IN ABUJA

ECOWAS IS SET TO AWARD WEST AFRICA’S 60 MOST PROMISING START-UPS THIS WEEK IN ABUJA

ECOWAS IS SET TO AWARD WEST AFRICA’S 60 MOST PROMISING START-UPS THIS WEEK IN ABUJA
Sep 21, 2026 2 min read

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is set to bring together 60 of West Africa’s most promising startups for the 2nd ECOWAS Startup Awards, taking place from 21–30 September 2026 at the new ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja. Under the theme “Scaling West African Startups for Digital Transformation, Regional Integration and Sustainable Value Chain Ecosystem Development to drive Market Access,” the initiative will spotlight home-grown solutions with the potential to transform businesses, create opportunities and accelerate regional integration.

 

The 10-day programme will move from a Virtual Masterclass (21–25 September) to a high-energy Pitching, Exhibition and Awards programme (28–30 September), connecting startups with investors, business leaders and development partners. The 60 startups span six strategic sectors — FinTech, HealthTech, AgriTech and Food Systems, EdTech and Skills Development, CleanTech, Climate and Green Innovation, and Tourism, Hospitality and Travel Tech — with the top three startups set to receive US$30,000, US$20,000 and US$15,000 in seed funding. The programme also targets US$5 million in deals across the thematic tracks.

 

Building on the inaugural Awards held in Niamey in 2021, the 2nd ECOWAS Startup Awards goes beyond a competition to create a lasting regional platform for entrepreneurship and innovation. A key legacy will be the ECOWAS Private Sector Development Academy, a permanent digital learning platform designed to strengthen the capabilities of startups, entrepreneurs and policymakers in enterprise development, trade and competitiveness. With support from partners including ITC, GIZ, ASKY, UNIDO and the Bank of Industry of Nigeria, ECOWAS is working to turn West Africa’s entrepreneurial energy into scalable enterprises, stronger regional value chains and greater access to markets across the region and beyond.

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H.E. GENERAL BIRAME DIOP AND HON. JUSTICE RICARDO CLÁUDIO MON-TEIRO GONÇALVES ADVANCE A SHARED VISION FOR STRONGER INSTITUTI-ONS, RULE OF LAW AND REGIONAL INTEGRATION The President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. General Birame Diop, and the President of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, Hon. Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves, have reaf-firmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation among ECOWAS institutions, promoting the rule of law and advancing regional integration during the Commission President’s official visit to the Court in Abuja. The meeting underscored a shared determination to reinforce institutional effectiveness, democratic governance and citizen-centred development as key pillars of the ECO-WAS Vision 2050. Addressing members of the Court and the Commission delegation, H.E. General Birame Diop emphasized that ECOWAS stands at a critical juncture in its history and must collectively res-pond to the challenges facing the region across the areas of integration, peace and security, governance, democracy and sustainable development. He stressed that strong institutions remain indispensable to the success of the regional project and called for closer collaboration among the Community’s principal organs while preserving their respective mandates and inde-pendence. The President of the Commission further highlighted the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between the executive, judicial and legislative institutions of ECOWAS. Drawing a pa-rallel with the governance structures of modern states, he noted that effective regional gover-nance depends on institutions that are independent, credible and capable, while working toge-ther in pursuit of a common objective: the prosperity, stability and well-being of the peoples of West Africa. In his remarks, Hon. Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves welcomed the Commission President to the Court and expressed confidence that the new leadership of the Commission would provide renewed momentum to the Community and its institutions. He underscored the importance of solidarity, fraternity and mutual support among ECOWAS institutions, noting that a stronger Community can only be built through closer cooperation and a shared com-mitment to serving the citizens of the region. The President of the Court also reaffirmed the judiciary’s readiness to contribute to the realiza-tion of the Community’s objectives and praised the Commission President’s distinguished in-ternational experience and leadership credentials. He expressed optimism that the new man-date would further strengthen the foundations of regional integration and enhance the effec-tiveness of ECOWAS in addressing the expectations of its Member States and citizens. The discussions highlighted a strong convergence of views on the central role of the rule of law, institutional dialogue and mutual respect in advancing the ECOWAS integration agenda. Both leaders emphasized that independent institutions are not instruments of competition but part-ners in a common endeavour to build a more peaceful, democratic, prosperous and resilient West Africa. The visit further provided an opportunity for both institutions to reaffirm their commitment to deeper engagement, stronger coordination and continuous dialogue in support of the Commu-nity’s strategic priorities. It also reflected a shared understanding that the success of ECOWAS depends not only on the strength of its institutions but also on their ability to work collectively in delivering tangible benefits to the citizens they serve.
September 21, 2026 0

H.E. GENERAL BIRAME DIOP AND HON. JUSTICE RICARDO CLÁUDIO MON-TEIRO GONÇALVES ADVANCE A SHARED VISION FOR STRONGER INSTITUTI-ONS, RULE OF LAW AND REGIONAL INTEGRATION The President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. General Birame Diop, and the President of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, Hon. Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves, have reaf-firmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation among ECOWAS institutions, promoting the rule of law and advancing regional integration during the Commission President’s official visit to the Court in Abuja. The meeting underscored a shared determination to reinforce institutional effectiveness, democratic governance and citizen-centred development as key pillars of the ECO-WAS Vision 2050. Addressing members of the Court and the Commission delegation, H.E. General Birame Diop emphasized that ECOWAS stands at a critical juncture in its history and must collectively res-pond to the challenges facing the region across the areas of integration, peace and security, governance, democracy and sustainable development. He stressed that strong institutions remain indispensable to the success of the regional project and called for closer collaboration among the Community’s principal organs while preserving their respective mandates and inde-pendence. The President of the Commission further highlighted the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between the executive, judicial and legislative institutions of ECOWAS. Drawing a pa-rallel with the governance structures of modern states, he noted that effective regional gover-nance depends on institutions that are independent, credible and capable, while working toge-ther in pursuit of a common objective: the prosperity, stability and well-being of the peoples of West Africa. In his remarks, Hon. Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves welcomed the Commission President to the Court and expressed confidence that the new leadership of the Commission would provide renewed momentum to the Community and its institutions. He underscored the importance of solidarity, fraternity and mutual support among ECOWAS institutions, noting that a stronger Community can only be built through closer cooperation and a shared com-mitment to serving the citizens of the region. The President of the Court also reaffirmed the judiciary’s readiness to contribute to the realiza-tion of the Community’s objectives and praised the Commission President’s distinguished in-ternational experience and leadership credentials. He expressed optimism that the new man-date would further strengthen the foundations of regional integration and enhance the effec-tiveness of ECOWAS in addressing the expectations of its Member States and citizens. The discussions highlighted a strong convergence of views on the central role of the rule of law, institutional dialogue and mutual respect in advancing the ECOWAS integration agenda. Both leaders emphasized that independent institutions are not instruments of competition but part-ners in a common endeavour to build a more peaceful, democratic, prosperous and resilient West Africa. The visit further provided an opportunity for both institutions to reaffirm their commitment to deeper engagement, stronger coordination and continuous dialogue in support of the Commu-nity’s strategic priorities. It also reflected a shared understanding that the success of ECOWAS depends not only on the strength of its institutions but also on their ability to work collectively in delivering tangible benefits to the citizens they serve.

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ECOWAS COMMISSION WELCOMES JOURNALISTS FROM MEMBER STATES TO NEW HEADQUARTERS IN ABUJA
September 21, 2026 0

ECOWAS COMMISSION WELCOMES JOURNALISTS FROM MEMBER STATES TO NEW HEADQUARTERS IN ABUJA

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ECOWAS IS SET TO AWARD WEST AFRICA’S 60 MOST PROMISING START-UPS THIS WEEK IN ABUJA
September 21, 2026 0

ECOWAS IS SET TO AWARD WEST AFRICA’S 60 MOST PROMISING START-UPS THIS WEEK IN ABUJA

Learn More
GENERAL BIRAME DIOP AND AMBASSADOR MARC FONBAUSTIER DISCUSS COOPERATION BETWEEN ECOWAS AND FRANCE
September 21, 2026 0

GENERAL BIRAME DIOP AND AMBASSADOR MARC FONBAUSTIER DISCUSS COOPERATION BETWEEN ECOWAS AND FRANCE

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GHANCOY 5 ESSMGB DONATES TO GUINEA-BISSAU MILITARY HOSPITAL
September 21, 2026 0

GHANCOY 5 ESSMGB DONATES TO GUINEA-BISSAU MILITARY HOSPITAL

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THE PRESIDENT OF THE ECOWAS COMMISSION RECEIVES THE AMBASSADORS OF QATAR AND SUDAN AT THE ECOWAS COMMISSION HEAD QUARTERS IN ABUJA
September 18, 2026 0

THE PRESIDENT OF THE ECOWAS COMMISSION RECEIVES THE AMBASSADORS OF QATAR AND SUDAN AT THE ECOWAS COMMISSION HEAD QUARTERS IN ABUJA

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