Liberian business tycoon Benoni Urey said Thursday billionaire Nigerian Aliko Dangote appointed him as Liberia’s Country Representative on the ECOWAS Business Council (EBC).
The EBC is a key regional private-sector body chaired by Nigerian industrialist Dangote.
The appointment positions Urey, who is Chairman of PLC Investments Group, to represent Liberia’s business community in advancing regional economic cooperation and private-sector-led development across West Africa.
He has also been invited to attend the Council’s inaugural meeting, scheduled for November 27, 2026, at the Dangote Group Headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria.
The ECOWAS Business Council was established to strengthen the role of the private sector in regional integration, investment promotion, industrialization, trade expansion, and economic growth within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Urey’s selection reflects his long-standing involvement in Liberia’s business sector and his record of investment across multiple industries. Through PLC Investments Ltd., he was among the founding shareholders of Lonestar Communications Corporation (Lonestar Cell MTN), which was established in 2001 and has grown into one of Liberia’s leading mobile telecommunications providers.
Beyond telecommunications, Urey has made significant investments in agriculture, developing commercial farming operations in Konola and Careysburg. He has also served in senior leadership positions at the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) and the Liberia Maritime Authority, formerly known as the Bureau of Maritime Affairs.
As a member of the ECOWAS Business Council, Urey is expected to contribute to policy discussions and strategic initiatives aimed at fostering stronger regional business partnerships, expanding investment opportunities, and enhancing the competitiveness of West African enterprises.
His appointment provides Liberia with an important platform to help shape the region’s economic agenda while ensuring that the interests and perspectives of the country’s private sector are represented in regional decision-making processes.
