Akinremi Akintoye
The 95th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, held in Abuja on December 10, 2025, has set the stage for deeper regional integration, strengthened governance, and accelerated economic resilience in West Africa.
The three-day meeting, attended by Ministers of Foreign Affairs from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), reviewed critical memoranda designed to reinforce governance structures, accelerate regional integration, and drive sustainable economic development across the sub-region.
Key highlights of the meeting include the assessment and approval of the 2026 work programme and budget of ECOWAS institutions, review of the Community’s financial situation, evaluation of the implementation of the ECOWAS levy protocol, and consideration of reports from the Auditor General and the Audit Committee.
The Council also examined key memoranda on regional resilience, monetary integration, and resource mobilisation for operationalising the ECOWAS Counter-Terrorism Force.
In his opening address, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, announced the selection of Alhaji Aliko Dangote as the pioneer Chairperson of the ECOWAS Business Council, a move aimed at advancing private sector growth and regional economic integration.
Dr. Touray emphasized 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.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, welcomed the delegates and stressed that the outcomes of the session would inform the recommendations presented to the Authority of Heads of State and Government, shaping the region’s next phase of integration.
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu reaffirmed the need for inclusive governance, deeper intra-regional trade, and expanded opportunities for the region’s over 400 million citizens, 65 percent of whom are under the age of 25.
The 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.
ECOWAS reaffirmed its commitment to building a more resilient, peaceful, and prosperous region, and called on all stakeholders to renew their dedication to creating a West Africa defined by stability, economic opportunity, and sustainable development for generations to come.
