ECOWAS Wraps Up Third Edition of Information and Campaign for Small Scale Women Traders in Lagos.
BY RAYMOND ENOCH
With a mix of celebration, reflection, and renewed commitment, the third edition of the ECOWAS Information and Awareness Campaign for Small-Scale Cross-Border Women Traders officially came to a close in Lagos — marking a pivotal moment in the regional effort to economically empower women traders operating along the Abidjan–Lagos corridor.
Held in Nigeria’s bustling commercial capital, the closing ceremony brought together a distinguished roster of regional leaders, experts, and stakeholders. Among them were Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs; Honourable Mrs. Folashade Kaosarat Bada Ambrose, Commissioner for Trade, Cooperatives and Investment; and Dr. Chinyere Almona, FCA, Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The campaign, launched on June 30 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, was a key feature of ECOWAS’s golden jubilee celebrations and aimed at bridging the knowledge gap that often hampers small-scale women traders from fully benefiting from regional trade agreements.
Speaking at the ceremony, Professor Fatou Sow Sarr reminded attendees that this campaign is deeply rooted in the Gender and Trade Action Plan adopted in 2015 by the ECOWAS Conference of Heads of State. “This plan aligns with the Revised ECOWAS Treaty, which promotes market integration and the free movement of goods within the Community,” she noted. “But more than that, it addresses real challenges these women face daily while contributing significantly to informal cross-border trade.”
Sarr called for a unified commitment from all levels — local, national, and regional — to ensure the needs and realities of these traders are fully incorporated into policy frameworks. “We must create spaces where women’s voices in trade are not only heard but prioritized,” she emphasized.
Echoing this sentiment, Honourable Commissioner Folashade Bada Ambrose lauded the campaign as a strategic initiative that directly addresses the socio-economic barriers confronting women in informal trade. “This is more than just awareness. It’s about building a future where women traders are empowered, protected, and equipped to thrive in a regional economy,” she said.
Dr. Chinyere Almona of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry stressed the importance of translating policies into practical outcomes. “This campaign must go beyond talk — it must lead to sustainable structures where women operate confidently in fair, transparent systems that support their growth,” she stated.
Throughout its course, the campaign offered extensive capacity-building sessions, legal guidance, and practical tools designed to help traders navigate regulatory frameworks under both ECOWAS and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Women participants gained access to vital information on trade rules, customs procedures, and their rights under regional protocols.
This third edition, like its predecessors, was crafted not only to raise awareness but to promote ownership. It helped many women traders understand and embrace the laws that govern cross-border trade, allowing them to participate more effectively in formal economies.
As the curtains closed on the Lagos leg of the campaign, the sense of momentum was undeniable. While this edition concludes, the message resonating through the region is clear: when women are empowered with knowledge and resources, the entire West African trade ecosystem stands to gain.
The ECOWAS Commission and its partners have reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that cross-border women traders are no longer sidelined but rather positioned as vital engines of economic transformation in West Africa.
