Activist urges ECOWAS to adopt Hausa for commerce

By : Guardian Nigeria

Date: 25 August 2025 10:07pm WAT

FILES-NIGERIA-MALI-BURKINA-NIGER-COUP-POLITICS-SAHEL-EXOWAS

(FILES) (FILES) Flags of Economic Community of West African States Commission (ECOWAS) countries are displayed inside the Nigeria presidential villa, after the extraordinary session of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government in Abuja, Nigeria on February 24, 2024. The withdrawal of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States takes effect on Wednesday after a year of political tensions, fracturing the region and leaving the bloc with an uncertain future. On January 29, 2024, the three countries led by military regimes formally notified ECOWAS of their desire for "immediate" withdrawal. But the texts of the West African organisation required one-year's notice for it to be effective. (Photo by Kola Sulaimon / AFP)

Abdulbaqi Jari, the Global Coordinator of the World Hausa Day celebration, has urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to adopt Hausa as a language for commerce and social interaction across the region.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday ahead of the 2025 World Hausa Day, Jari said using Hausa in trade and business would enhance socio-economic activities and facilitate communication among West African countries.

“This year’s celebration, scheduled for August 26 at the Emir of Daura’s Palace, is aimed at promoting the Hausa language, heritage, and the significant economic contributions of Hausa-speaking communities across at least 25 countries,” he said.
Jari emphasized that recognising Hausa for official commercial use within ECOWAS could strengthen regional cohesion and cultural identity.

“We have seen African countries taking steps to recognise indigenous languages and give them direct support. This strengthens our pride and identity while ensuring effective communication. Hausa is well-positioned to serve—not only in Nigeria but across ECOWAS—because it is widely spoken throughout West Africa. It can serve as a unifying language for commerce, trade, and social interactions,” he stated.

In addition, Jari called on the Federal Government to designate Hausa as Nigeria’s national language for official use, highlighting its cultural significance and broad adoption.

“We are calling on the Federal Government to recognise Hausa as the national language of Nigeria. Hausa has spread widely and has the numbers required for it to function effectively as a national language,” he said.

On preparations for the World Hausa Day celebration, Jari said the Katsina State Government was collaborating with organisers to ensure a smooth event. “Preparations have reached top gear.

Other events will be taking place in 25 other countries around the world. This is a very significant occasion for the Hausa people because, as we speak, Hausa is now the largest indigenous African language and the 11th most spoken globally,” he added.

The annual World Hausa Day celebration aims to highlight the cultural and economic impact of Hausa-speaking communities and to promote the language across local and international platforms.