ECOWAS empowers women entrepreneurs through digital trade initiative

Lagos played host to a landmark gathering of West Africa's digital trade stakeholders as ECOWAS, in partnership with UNCTAD and supported by the World Bank-funded WARDIP program, convened the eTrade for Women Joint Workshop. The event marked a strategic push to amplify women's participation in the region's burgeoning digital economy. 

Speaking on behalf of ECOWAS Commissioner Massandjé Touré-Litsé, Trade Director Kolawole Sofola noted the organization's commitment to gender-inclusive digital transformation. "Our ECOWAS E-Commerce Strategy deliberately positions women, youth, and small-scale producers as drivers of regional trade integration," Sofola stated, referencing the policy framework adopted by regional ministers in 2023. The workshop forms part of ongoing efforts to translate this strategy into concrete opportunities for women entrepreneurs across member states. 

UNCTAD representative Sonia Nnagozie underscored digital trade's transformative potential for women-led businesses. "When we remove barriers to women's digital participation, we unlock exponential growth for entire economies," she noted, praising ECOWAS for its leadership in creating enabling ecosystems. The discussions yielded practical recommendations to address structural challenges women face in accessing digital marketplaces. 

Participants explored ECOWAS's innovative platforms including the 50 Million African Women Speak initiative and the West Africa Competitiveness Observatory's B2B matchmaking portal, both designed to connect women entrepreneurs with regional and continental markets. The workshop also highlighted successful models from the ECOWAS Trade and Gender Action Plan and export readiness programs that have equipped women with digital trade competencies. 

This gathering of women entrepreneurs, trade ministry officials, and development partners signals growing momentum behind West Africa's digital integration agenda. By prioritizing women's inclusion in e-commerce ecosystems, ECOWAS aims to harness digital technologies as equalizers that can bridge gender gaps in regional trade while accelerating progress toward the African Continental Free Trade Area's objectives. 

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye