Rakiya A. Muhammad
Across West Africa, a vibrant wave of entrepreneurial spirit sweeps through the region, sparking innovation and ambition. The Startup Initiative has been instrumental in nurturing this energy, providing startups with a supportive environment to innovate, experiment, and succeed.
The initiative celebrates these businesses’ achievements while driving digital transformation, regional integration, and sustainable development across the ECOWAS Member States. Entrepreneurs value the stronger connections it fosters, which promote knowledge-sharing and expand access to opportunities within the startup ecosystem.
The ECOWAS Startup Initiative has transformed how entrepreneurs connect, collaborate, and grow. By providing a platform for knowledge-sharing, market access, and capital, it has empowered startups to scale their impact and drive regional integration across six sectors: FinTech, AgriTech, Health Tech, EdTech, Clean Tech, and TravelTech.
Celebrating Achievements, Driving Change
Among the shining stars of this initiative is Mrs Tope Kareem, Co-Founder and CEO of HubPharm Africa, who recently celebrated a momentous victory, securing the grand prize of US$30,000.
Her gratitude towards the ECOWAS Commission was palpable, as she recognised the invaluable platform it provides for African startups to gain visibility and foster growth.
The initiative also highlights diverse talent across the continent. Senegal’s Gaynako, led by Pape Natango Mbaye, and Côte d’Ivoire’s My Opinion, founded by Steve Bah Blesson, claimed the first and second runner-up spots, earning US$20,000 and US$15,000, respectively.
Gaynako’s solution transforms invasive Typha plants into livestock feed, while My Opinion reflects the creativity behind technology-driven solutions. These entrepreneurs show the ingenuity flourishing in West Africa.
Last year, the ECOWAS initiative awarded USD 50,000 to the top three startups at the African Forum for Research and Innovation (FARI 2025) in Cotonou, where projects aimed at reducing maritime transport costs and improving healthcare for the visually impaired were recognised.
The initiative spotlights high-impact startups and addresses critical challenges such as access to finance for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), particularly those led by youth and women.
It aligns with ECOWAS’s vision of using entrepreneurship as a catalyst for economic growth and job creation, reinforcing the belief that when businesses thrive, the region does too.
As Mr Dehpue Yenpea Zuo, the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, states, “When your business succeeds, West Africa succeeds.” This sentiment captures the essence of the Startup Awards, which aim to drive regional integration and industrialisation while fostering scalable businesses that can flourish, create jobs, and transform lives across borders.
Zuo highlights the awards’ role in spotlighting solutions to pressing human-development challenges that transcend borders. He also urges participants to embrace their roles not just as entrepreneurs but as community leaders poised to effect meaningful change.
Mr Peter Oluoye, Acting Director of Private Sector and Industry, reflects on the inaugural edition of the awards in 2021 and celebrates the region’s wealth of innovative talent. He urges participants to seize the opportunities these awards present and thanks the sponsors and partners whose efforts made the event a success.
Mr Martin Boylan, Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, emphasises the critical role of regional integration for West African startups.
He frames these entrepreneurs not merely as beneficiaries but as vital partners in the region’s economic transformation, highlighting the need for a supportive ecosystem for startups to thrive.
Mrs Natasha Akoje from the International Trade Centre in Nigeria articulates the organisation’s commitment to nurturing entrepreneurs, emphasising support that extends beyond individual businesses to a competitive, cross-border landscape.
Her remarks underscore the importance of skills, finance, and market opportunities, alongside technical support through masterclasses and mentorship.
Sen. John Enoh, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Industry, recognises the initiative as a platform for showcasing the ingenuity of young West Africans. He calls for institutionalising the awards to ensure ongoing support for innovative solutions to regional challenges.
Citing impressive funding figures for Nigerian startups, Enoh stresses that sustainability hinges on building capacity and creating jobs, with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency’s post-event coaching program poised to support this transition.
Together, these leaders present a hopeful picture of a dynamic entrepreneurial landscape in West Africa, where innovation, collaboration, and community can drive transformative change across the region.
Igniting Youth, Women’s Potentials
As the ECOWAS Startup Awards continue to evolve, they reflect a commitment to fostering innovation and supporting emerging enterprises across West Africa. The collective efforts of stakeholders, including government officials, international partners, and entrepreneurs, underscore the need for an enabling environment for entrepreneurship. With a focus on inclusivity and sustainability, West Africa’s economic landscape looks promising, driven by the ingenuity and resilience of its young entrepreneurs.
This year, the awards not only celebrate emerging enterprises, but mark a pivotal moment in the Commission’s commitment to nurturing a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. The launch of the ECOWAS Private Sector Development Academy and the ECOWAS Startup Networks further supports this vision, creating a framework for collaboration and growth.
Building on the momentum of the Startup initiative, ECOWAS unveils the ECOWAS Youth and Women Entrepreneurship Program (EYWEP), a bold regional effort to empower youth and women economically by fostering entrepreneurship, sparking innovation, and building vital skills.
EYWEP serves as a regional platform for cooperation, innovation, and investment, harnessing the entrepreneurial spirit of West African youth and women. It aspires to make entrepreneurship a driver of prosperity, stability, and regional integration, offering hope and opportunity for West Africa’s future.
With AUDA-NEPAD’s backing, EYWEP aims to uplift youth and women through entrepreneurship, innovation, and skills development. Central to this mission is the ECOWAS Regional Business Incubation Programme (EBIP), which targets young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35 across seven member states: Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. Through EBIP, these aspiring business leaders gain access to vital resources, mentorship, and training to turn their ideas into sustainable ventures.
Implemented by the ECOWAS Centre for Youth and Sports Development and supported by international partners, EYWEP offers a lifeline for young and women entrepreneurs. By providing tailored services ranging from capacity building to financing mechanisms, EYWEP aims to cultivate a dynamic and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem that can generate decent jobs and stimulate economic growth.
The launch ceremony was a moment of palpable excitement, as the first round of support was presented to selected beneficiaries, a tangible sign of ECOWAS’s dedication to translating policy into action.
Observers note that this initiative bolsters member states’ economic resilience and aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Bridging Informal, Formal Markets
The voices of women, youth, and informal traders resonate with urgency and hope as stakeholders recognise their critical role in bolstering intra-regional trade.
ECOWAS initiatives such as the Informal Trade Regularisation Support Programme, the Trade and Gender Framework (2024-2030), and the Regional E-Commerce Strategy aim to empower those often left on the fringes of the economy.
The Informal Trade Regularisation Support Programme seeks to bridge the gap between informal and formal markets, ensuring that traders affected by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can access the same benefits as their formal counterparts. The Trade and Gender Framework calls for gender-responsive policies that recognise and address the unique challenges women and youth face in trade. The Regional E-Commerce Strategy aims to harness the digital revolution, build e-commerce capacity across the region, and open new trade avenues.
Christopher Mensah-Yawson, ECOWAS Programme Officer for Trade Development, emphasises the need to dismantle barriers that hinder participation.
With a population exceeding 456 million—nearly half of whom are women — and a median age of just 18.2 years, West Africa stands at a crossroads of opportunity and challenge.
Yawson asserts that the future of trade hinges on making AfCFTA inclusive, particularly for those historically marginalised.
The statistics are stark: women make up about 74% of informal cross-border trade operators, while youth under 25 depend heavily on informal trade for their livelihoods. Yet, they face daunting obstacles—cumbersome customs procedures, limited access to finance, and inadequate infrastructure. Yawson calls for urgent reforms to protect these vulnerable traders and integrate them into the formal economy.
As the ECOWAS pushes for inclusive trade frameworks, the impact of these initiatives is already palpable. Women and youth are beginning to formalise their businesses, expand their networks, and engage more actively in regional trade. Committed to dismantling structural barriers and fostering an environment where all traders can thrive, the path to sustainable economic growth in West Africa is being paved—one initiative at a time.
