ECOWAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES THE YOUTH AND WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM (EYWEP)04 Aug, 2026On July 31, 2026, in Dakar, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) officially launched the ECOWAS Youth and Women Entrepreneurship Program (EYWEP), a regional initiative aimed at strengthening the economic empowerment of youth and women through entrepreneurship, innovation, and skills development. The ceremony took place on the sidelines of the Meeting of Ministers in Charge of Youth and Sports of ECOWAS Member States, dedicated to the validation and adoption of new regional policies on youth, sports, and volunteerism. Through the launch of EYWEP, the ECOWAS Commission reaffirms its commitment to promoting inclusive growth based on innovation, job creation, private sector development, and the empowerment of youth and women. The program will help strengthen the economic resilience of member states and accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals as well as the African Union’s Agenda 2063. The EYWEP program thus serves as a new regional platform for cooperation, innovation, and investment in the entrepreneurial potential of West African youth and women, with the aim of making entrepreneurship a true driver of prosperity, stability, and regional integration.