ECOWAS and Tourism Stakeholders Align to Boost West African Regional Integration in Abuja

The economic integration of West Africa received a strategic boost in the Nigerian capital as regional tourism leaders convened to adopt a pioneering accreditation framework. Organised on July 29, 2026, in Abuja, the high-level consultative meeting brought together key public and private sector figures on the margins of the 9th Nigeria Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibition (NTIFE 2026), held from July 30 to 31.

The gathering was spearheaded by the ECOWAS Commission through its Directorate of Private Sector and Industry, in partnership with the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) and with vital technical backing from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). Delegations representing national tourism bodies and regulatory agencies traveled from Ghana, Guinea, Togo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, The Gambia, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Nigeria to participate under the banner of the Confederation of Private Sector Organisations of Tourism in ECOWAS (COPITOUR).

Opening the sessions, Dr. Kalilou Sylla, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, underscored the Commission’s unwavering dedication to empowering Regional Business Associations (RBAs) as vital catalysts for community building. Represented by Ms. Anna Wadda, Principal Programme Officer for Industrial and Technology Development, Dr. Sylla highlighted that the tourism economy serves as an extraordinary engine for fostering cross-border peace, deepening cultural ties, generating jobs, and drawing vital investments.

A core milestone of the agenda was the formal presentation of the ECOWAS Framework for the Recognition of Regional Business Associations. Delivered by Chief John Umoren on behalf of the ECOWAS Commission’s Private Sector and Industry directorate and its Business and Enterprise Promotion Division—which houses the Tourism Unit—the document outlines a rigorous, performance-based accreditation structure anchored by seven distinct pillars.

Chief Umoren urged sector players to look beyond conventional hospitality and travel services, pointing to expansive multi-sector value chains. He specifically encouraged COPITOUR delegates to capitalize on sports tourism and creative industries by treating sports as a dynamic commercial enterprise, labelling them as immediate growth opportunities.

Following comprehensive deliberations, COPITOUR delegates voted to unanimously adopt the framework. Industry leaders hailed the instrument as a transformative roadmap designed to elevate governance standards, transparency, and institutional accountability across West African trade networks. Participants departed with renewed optimism, viewing the Abuja dialogue as a foundational milestone for a deeper, more enduring partnership between ECOWAS and COPITOUR.