ECOWAS Launches Awareness Campaign for Cross-Border Traders

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched the third phase of its Information and Awareness Campaign for small-scale cross-border traders, this time focusing on the busy Abidjan-Lagos corridor.

The initiative, which began on 30 June 2025 in Abidjan, will continue until 15 July 2025, according to a statement issued by the ECOWAS Commission.

Led by the ECOWAS Commission’s Human Development and Social Affairs Department and the Economic Affairs and Agriculture Department, the campaign aims to build on the successes of previous editions in 2023 and 2024.

The ECOWAS Commission said that the core objective of the campaign is to ease cross-border trade and enhance the operations of small-scale traders by boosting their understanding of relevant trade regulations and community initiatives.

The 2025 campaign will make stops in key cities along the corridor: Abidjan (30 June – 2 July), Lomé (3 – 6 July), Cotonou (6 – 9 July), and Lagos (10 – 14 July).

Each stop will feature official ceremonies, public meetings to discuss ECOWAS trade policies, and training workshops on women’s rights in cross-border trade. There will also be visits to local markets and women-led small and medium-sized enterprises, alongside meetings with administrative and local authorities to observe challenges and opportunities firsthand.

A significant aspect of this year’s campaign is the emphasis on promoting women’s rights in trade across the region. Insights gained will help shape a major regional trade facilitation programme specifically designed for women and young people involved in small-scale cross-border trade.

ECOWAS was established in 1975, by fifteen West African countries, with a mission to promote economic integration.

While Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger officially withdrew in January 2025, ECOWAS continues its work with its current twelve member states, striving for an “ECOWAS of the People: Peace and Prosperity to All” by 2050.