ECOWAS Drives W/Africa’s Entrepreneurial Energy Into Scalable Enterprise

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), is providing new energy policy specifically aiming to turn West Africa’s entrepreneurial energy into scalable enterprises, stronger regional value chains and greater access to markets across the region and beyond.

At the best of it the block has set the stage for sixty West Africa’s most promising startups to participate in the 2nd ECOWAS Startup Awards, which opened on Monday, September 21, 2026 at the new ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.

The award, which has the theme “Scaling West African Startups for Digital Transformation, Regional Integration and Sustainable Value Chain Ecosystem Development to drive Market Access,” 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.

According to the report distributed by the APO Group on behalf of ECOWAS, the 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 providing support and opportunities for stronger regional value chains and greater access to markets across the region and beyond.