has taken a decisive step forward in championing women entrepreneurs in the digital trade sector through a collaborative workshop held on July 17, 2025, in Lagos.
The event, organised alongside UNCTAD and the World Bank-backed WARDIP programme, brought together policymakers, women business leaders, and development partners to address barriers and amplify female participation in West Africa’s burgeoning digital economy.
Kolawole Sofola, Director of Trade representing ECOWAS Commissioner Massandjé Toure-Litse, reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to gender-inclusive digital transformation. Highlighting the ECOWAS E-Commerce Strategy (2023–2027), he emphasized the central role of women, youth, and small-scale producers in shaping regional trade reforms. “Platforms like this drive actionable policies for sustainable digital growth,” Sofola stated, referencing initiatives such as the ECOWAS Trade and Gender Action Plan and the 50 Million African Women Speak network.
UNCTAD’s Sonia Nnagozie applauded ECOWAS’s efforts in creating enabling ecosystems for women’s digital trade. She stressed the vast potential for digital commerce to unlock opportunities for women entrepreneurs across the region and called for sustained collaboration to turn dialogue into tangible support. The workshop spotlighted persistent challenges including digital literacy gaps and limited access to finance, while also showcasing programs designed to enhance export readiness and facilitate business-to-business matchmaking.
The dialogue concluded with concrete policy recommendations aimed at strengthening women’s digital entrepreneurship. These align closely with Ghana’s current push under President Mahama’s administration to promote inclusive economic policies. ECOWAS plans to integrate these insights into its ongoing digital integration initiatives, positioning West Africa as a leader in equitable and sustainable digital trade growth.
This move represents a pivotal moment in bridging gender divides in the digital economy, driving forward ECOWAS’s vision of an inclusive and prosperous West African trade landscape.
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