The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says its Startup Awards will support regional integration, industrialisation and job creation by helping promising businesses scale across West Africa.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Dehpue Zuo, made the statement on Monday at the opening of the second ECOWAS Startup Awards in Abuja. The programme is themed, “Scaling West African Startups for Digital Transformation, Regional Integration and Sustainable Value Chain Ecosystem Development to Drive Market Access.”
Zuo said the initiative was designed to go beyond recognising successful entrepreneurs, describing it as a platform for developing businesses capable of expanding across regional markets, creating employment and contributing to economic integration.
He said the programme would help connect startups with investors, policymakers and development partners while strengthening their capacity to develop solutions relevant to West Africa’s economic and social challenges.
The 2026 edition brings together 60 startups from ECOWAS member states, with activities including masterclasses, startup clinics, pitch competitions, exhibitions, investor deal rooms and policy discussions.
According to ECOWAS, the startups participating in the programme are drawn from six priority sectors: education technology, financial technology, health technology, agricultural technology and food systems, clean technology and climate innovation, and tourism, hospitality and travel technology.
The commission said the programme is intended to improve access to regional markets and investment while supporting businesses with the potential to scale beyond their domestic markets.
The physical phase of the awards is taking place in Abuja from Sept. 28 to 30, following a virtual masterclass and startup clinic programme held from Sept. 21 to 25. The regional finals are scheduled for Sept. 30.
The initiative also provides participating startups with opportunities for mentorship, regional visibility, investor engagement and a six month acceleration programme. The top three winners are eligible for cash prizes of $30,000, $20,000 and $15,000 respectively.
For West Africa, the focus on scalable startups comes as governments and development institutions seek to increase private sector participation, strengthen digital economies and create employment opportunities for a growing young population.
ECOWAS said supporting businesses that can operate across borders could also contribute to deeper economic integration by encouraging entrepreneurs to access customers, capital, talent and supply chains in other member states.
The Startup Awards therefore combine entrepreneurship development with the broader objective of improving regional market access and strengthening West Africa’s emerging innovation ecosystem.
The second edition follows the inaugural ECOWAS Startup Awards held in Niamey, Niger, in November 2021.
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