ECOWAS Pavilion, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos Island, Lagos, Nigeria
ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs & Agriculture
Dr. Kalilou Sylla, a citizen of Côte d’Ivoire, is the Head of the ECOWAS Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture. He holds a PhD in Economics from Félix Houphouët-Boigny University in Abidjan, where he has taught since 1997. With over 27 years of experience, he brings strong expertise in economic policy, trade, and regional development. Before joining ECOWAS, he was Director General of Foreign Trade at Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, where he coordinated trade policy and led WTO negotiations. He also served as Chief of Staff at the Ministry for African Integration, overseeing Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations and strengthening relations with ECOWAS and other regional bodies. Dr. Sylla has led key farmer organisations such as ROPPA and the Pan-African Farmers Organisation (PAFO). In these roles, he promoted agricultural transformation, supported farmer empowerment, and helped mobilise financing for agricultural growth. As ECOWAS Commissioner, his focus is on boosting food security, regional trade, and economic resilience in West Africa. He is an award-winning researcher with several publications and speaks French and English, with basic knowledge of Portuguese and Spanish.