ECOWAS ministers review strategic agenda to deepen regional integration, strengthen governance, and advance economic resilience

Ministers of Foreign Affairs from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) convened in Abuja – Nigeria, 10th December 2025, for the 95th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers. The three-day meeting will review critical memoranda designed to reinforce governance structures, ac-celerate regional integration, and drive sustainable economic development across West Africa.

The Council will assess and approve the 2026 work programme and budget of ECOWAS institutions, re-view the Community’s financial situation, evaluate the implementation of the ECOWAS levy protocol, and consider reports from the Auditor General and the Audit Committee. These deliberations are expected to enhance institutional transparency, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and bolster good govern-ance throughout the Community.

In alignment with regional priorities, Ministers will also examine key memoranda on regional resilience, monetary integration, and resource mobilisation for operationalising the ECOWAS Counter-Terrorism Force. Further, the Council will review critical resolutions from the Board of the ECOWAS Bank for Invest-ment and Development (EBID), reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to deepening financial coop-eration and stability across Member States.

In his opening address, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, highlighted a significant milestone in the evolution of the ECOWAS Business Council. He announced the selection of renowned industrialist Alhaji Aliko Dangote as the pioneer Chairperson of the Council, acknowledging his exceptional leadership in advancing private sector growth across the subregion.

Dr. Touray noted that the ECOWAS Business Council would serve as a dynamic platform for dialogue among the private sector, Member State governments, and ECOWAS institutions, ensuring that private-sector contributions play a central role in shaping the regional economic agenda. “As ECOWAS marks the 50th anniversary, the organisation is positioning the Council as a catalyst for private-sector-led growth, intra-regional investment, and resilience against global economic shocks”, he added.

The ECOWAS Commission President also underscored the rising momentum for intra-regional invest-ment. Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Senegal have recently hosted major regional and continental invest-ment fora, while Sierra Leone has submitted a proposal to host a West Africa Economic Investment Sum-mit. These developments, he stated, reflect a growing appetite for mobilising regional capital to advance development and reduce dependency on external financing.

“By empowering regional investors such as Alhaji Dangote and creating enabling conditions for pri-vate-sector engagement, ECOWAS aims to unlock new pathways for sustainable growth and shared prosperity,” Dr. Touray added.
Delivering her welcome remarks, H.E. Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, emphasised the Council’s broad agenda, which spans economic integration, peace and security, humanitarian affairs, agriculture, governance reforms, and institutional strengthening. She stressed that the outcomes of this session would inform the recommendations presented to the Authority of Heads of State and Government and help shape the region’s next phase of integration.

Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu also reaffirmed the need for inclusive governance, deeper intra-re-gional trade, and expanded opportunities for the region’s over 400 million citizens, 65 percent of whom are under the age of 25.

Chairman of the Council and Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Timothy Kabba, called for deepened cooperation among Member States to confront persistent security, economic, and governance challenges. He condemned recent political unrest in Benin Republic and Guinea-Bissau, stressing the need for unwavering commitment to constitutional order.
“Acts that undermine democratic governance threaten the very fabric of our Community. Our swift and coordinated responses demonstrate our resolve to uphold peace and stability,” Kabba stated.

“We must honour the vision of our forefathers who laid the foundation of a Community built on coop-eration, unity, and collective progress.”

ECOWAS reaffirmed its confidence in the Council’s ability to discharge its mandate with wisdom, dedica-tion, and a spirit of collaboration that has long defined the organisation. The Community anticipates ac-tionable, forward-looking decisions that will enhance institutional effectiveness and strengthen public confidence in the ECOWAS integration project.

As ECOWAS enters its next half-century, the organisation acknowledges both the progress achieved and the complex challenges that persist—including political instability, unconstitutional changes of govern-ment, and deficits in inclusive governance in some Member States. Nonetheless, ECOWAS remains reso-lute in its commitment to building a more resilient, peaceful, and prosperous region.

The Community calls on all stakeholders to reaffirm shared values, consolidate hard-won gains, and re-new their dedication to creating a West Africa defined by stability, economic opportunity, and sustainable development for generations to come.