The Federation of Business Women Entrepreneurs (FEBWE) was founded by the ECOWAS Commission and officially launched in Ghana in 2009. FEBWE is a regional platform created to advance the interests of women entrepreneurs across ECOWAS member states, fostering economic inclusion, empowerment, and cross-border cooperation.

The acronym “FEBWE” is used by Anglophone countries within ECOWAS, while Francophone countries refer to the organization as “FEFA.” Despite the linguistic differences, both arms operate under the same unified vision of empowering women in business.

FEBWE promotes and facilitates borderless trade, encouraging economic integration through initiatives such as the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS). It enables women-led businesses to showcase quality products, engage in investments, and participate in regional exhibitions and trade fairs.

The organization also works to strengthen partnerships, collaborations, and networks between ECOWAS women entrepreneurs and their international counterparts, including within the European Union.

FEBWE Nigeria was launched on 27th February 2012 at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Lagos, and continues to play a vital role in supporting women-led enterprises within Nigeria and across the region.