Bianca Ojukwu Rallies South-East Businesses to Harness ECOWAS Regional Trade Benefits

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has called on the South-East business community to take full advantage of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) to strengthen trade cooperation and economic growth across West Africa.

In a statement released on Monday by her Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, Dr. Magnus Eze, the minister emphasized the need for greater awareness and participation in the ETLS ahead of a sensitisation workshop scheduled for October 28, 2025, in Enugu. The event, organised by the ECOWAS National Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Enugu State Government, aims to enlighten stakeholders on the scheme’s benefits and implementation.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu explained that the ETLS, established in 1979, was designed to promote intra-regional trade and provide duty-free access for products originating within the ECOWAS region. She noted that Nigeria currently accounts for 36.1 percent of all registered companies under the scheme, with over 3,000 firms and 6,000 products approved—yet the initiative remains underutilised due to low awareness, especially among SMEs and traders.

The minister stated that the Enugu workshop would educate participants on the rules of origin, certification procedures, and documentation processes required to benefit from ETLS. She added that the sensitisation would help boost compliance, encourage entrepreneurship, and enhance job creation across the region. Stakeholders expected at the event include members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), NACCIMA, women in business, exporters, and agro-allied processors. Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State will serve as chief host at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.