The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, through its Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture, launched the holding of five regional meetings in Abuja as part of accelerating regional integration, promoting trade, boosting agricultural productivity, protecting the environment, enhancing food security, and accelerating inclusive economic growth across Member States. These initiatives align with ECOWAS Vision 2050 and the broader goals of the African Union’s 2063 Agenda.

The objective of the joint opening ceremony is to ensure greater consistency in the actions of the various directorates, thereby increasing the visibility of the Community and the impact on the field. The event was attended by senior ECOWAS officials, including Vice President Madame Damtien Tchintchibidja and Commissioner Dr. Kalilou Sylla, as well as top Nigerian government representatives such as the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, and representatives of the ministers of Environment, Trade & Investment, and Foreign Affairs. The ambition of the event is to be as close as possible to Member States and their populations.

Such initiatives are therefore meant to serve as an umbilical cord between the Commission, Member States and grassroots communities. They aim to create and consolidate closer ties with Member States and minimise the negative effects caused by the current difficult socio-political and security context in the region.

Enhancing communication means strengthening the usefulness and credibility of our common institution, ECOWAS. This new approach falls within the ambition of the ECOWAS 2050: ECOWAS of the People: Peace and Prosperity for All by 2050.

Following the joint opening ceremony covering a wide range of topics such as agriculture, environment and trade, the five regional meetings of the Department to be held in parallel in Abuja from 26^th November 2025 to 3^rd December 2025 are (i) Meeting on the ECOWAS E-commerce Strategy, (ii) Meeting on Trade in Services Programme, (iii) Meeting on Environmental protection through plastic pollution management, (iv) Third Statutory Meeting of the West African Fertilizer Control Committee (WACoFeC) et (v) Annual meeting of Technical Committees for Monitoring the implementation of projects and programmes of the Regional Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP).

ECOWAS must not be left on the sidelines when it comes to promoting e-commerce. It must master all aspects of it to stimulate regional cooperation and integration.

With agriculture being the backbone of our economy, it must be modernised while working with all stakeholders to ensure food and nutrition security in the region.

Plastic pollution is increasingly seen not only as an environmental concern but also as a socio-economic priority to be addressed in West Africa. It is therefore urgent for ECOWAS Member States to take more collective affirmative actions to further promote cooperation and solidarity and take joint action to control plastic pollution.

Together, these initiatives aim to accelerate regional integration, promote trade, boost agricultural productivity, protect the environment, enhance food security and accelerate inclusive economic growth in Member States.

Environmental protection, food and nutrition security, and the promotion of trade-friendly tools are essential steps towards achieving the ECOWAS of the People Vision: Peace and Prosperity for All by 2050.

Through the joint opening ceremony, the ECOWAS Commission wishes to share with all stakeholders selected achievements in the agricultural, environmental and trade sectors, with a view to fostering greater support and strengthening regional and international cooperation.

The initiatives collectively aim to strengthen regional integration, expand intra-regional trade, raise agricultural productivity, protect the environment, enhance food security, and promote inclusive economic growth. The effort reflects ECOWAS’ commitment to more coherent, visible, and impactful interventions across Member States, especially amid current socio-political and security challenges.