The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced the second edition of its Regional Startup Awards, an initiative aimed at promoting innovation, supporting emerging businesses and creating more employment opportunities for young people across the sub-region.
The programme is designed to help promising startups overcome some of the challenges associated with early-stage businesses while encouraging technological development and regional economic integration.
The ECOWAS Commission unveiled the initiative during a press briefing in Abuja, with the organisers highlighting the importance of strengthening the capacity of young entrepreneurs and helping innovative businesses gain access to wider markets.
The second edition comes with a total prize pool of $65,000, with the top three startups expected to receive $30,000, $20,000 and $15,000, respectively.
Beyond the financial rewards, the awards are intended to provide participating startups with greater visibility and opportunities to connect with investors, policymakers and other stakeholders within the West African business ecosystem.
More than 6,000 startups from across ECOWAS member states reportedly expressed interest in the programme, highlighting the growing appetite for entrepreneurship and technology-driven solutions among young people in the region.
The initiative is also expected to promote businesses capable of contributing to digital transformation, regional integration and the development of sustainable value chains.
The physical awards programme is scheduled to take place in Abuja from September 28 to 30, 2026, with about 60 startups expected to participate in the final stage.
ECOWAS said the initiative reflects its broader effort to strengthen the private sector, encourage entrepreneurship and create an environment where innovative businesses can expand beyond individual national markets.
Through the awards, the regional bloc hopes to identify and support high-impact startups capable of contributing to economic growth, technological advancement and youth employment across West Africa.
