The Federal Government has set a target to create over 10 million jobs by the end of 2025 through digital trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, announced this at the AfCFTA Digital Trade Workshop and Global Market held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
The event, themed “Unlocking State Exports Potential,” gathered government officials, trade commissioners, and private sector leaders to discuss strategies for expanding Nigeria’s role in digital commerce.
Shettima says that Nigeria’s leadership in digital commerce and financial technology has positioned it as Africa’s digital trade hub.
“Our innovations in mobile payments have transformed cross-border payments, financial inclusion, and digital transactions across the continent,” he states.
Nigeria’s designation as Africa’s Digital Trade Champion follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s pledge in December 2024 to champion the continent’s digital economy. This leadership role was formally recognized at the 38th African Union Heads of State Summit, where President Tinubu received commendation from former Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou, the AfCFTA Champion.
Shettima also announced that Nigeria’s Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Adamu Mohammed Abdulhamid, has been appointed Chairperson of the Committee of Trade and Services Special Session, effective this month.
“The AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol aims to increase intra-African trade from 18% in 2022 to 50% by 2030. With over 109 million internet users and a thriving mobile economy, Nigeria has the foundation to lead Africa’s digital commerce evolution,” Shettima noted.
He further highlighted ongoing initiatives to drive job creation, including:
• National Talent Export Programme (NATEP)
• Outsource to Nigeria Initiative
• 3 Million Technology Talents Programme
“Initiatives such as the Federal Ministry of Investment’s National Talent Export Programme, launched by the President in September 2023, the Outsource to Nigeria Initiative backed by the Office of the Vice President, and the 3 Million Technology Talents Programme of the Ministry of Innovation and Digital Economy are leading this growth and opening up opportunities for access to high-quality Nigerian talent at a global scale,” Shettima adds.
He also noted improvements in trade infrastructure aimed at reducing customs delays and enhancing Nigeria’s role in regional trade.
“Let us move rapidly from the text of the protocol to the actuality of a digitally enabled trade as a catalyst for prosperity for all,” he added.
AfCFTA: Boosting Youth Entrepreneurship and SME Growth
Mr. Ayodele Olawande, Minister of Youth Development, describes the workshop as a welcome development, citing President Tinubu’s approval of the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund as a major step in empowering young entrepreneurs.
According to Ayodele, “I also believe that this platform and strategic partnerships will help the youths to own their businesses to connect with the international digital trade and make Nigeria productive and globally competitive.”
Stakeholders Back Nigeria’s Digital Trade Push
Senator Uba Sani, Kaduna State Governor, represented by Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, Deputy Governor, praised the FG’s digital trade agenda.
“Digital trade platforms have eliminated traditional trade barriers, allowing businesses, both big and small, to participate in regional and global markets like never before. Today, we are reminded of the immense potential that lies within the African Continental Free Trade Area in a world increasingly defined by interconnectivity.
“We must seize this moment, not merely as a challenge, but as a powerful catalyst for growth and development. Digital transformation stands today as the cornerstone of innovation and sustainable growth. With 65% of our population under the age of 25, Nigeria possesses the demographic advantage to become a global digital powerhouse,” according to Governor Sani.
Barrister Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, emphasises the importance of digital trade in Nigeria’s creative industry.
“As the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy,” Musawa says, “I believe that the creative and culture industries are not just mere expressions but are real powerful drivers of the economy. Our ministry is committed to positioning Nigeria’s creative sector as a cornerstone of export through growth under the free trade area.
“Through the Creative Economy Development Fund that was recently approved, we are pioneering a new frontier, enabling creators to transform their intellectual property into bankable assets, and I think this is a very important and formidable initiative.”
Customs, NIMC, and Trade Experts Weigh In
Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, outlines the agency’s commitment to digital trade facilitation at the workshop.
According to him, “Customs has established a dedicated export command in Lagos, and they actively participated in AfCFTA’s guided trade initiatives. We have deployed advanced digital solutions, including a new platform christened B’Odogwu, intended to improve transparency and efficiency by connecting all stakeholders on a unified system.”
According to him, “Customs has established a dedicated export command in Lagos, and they actively participated in AfCFTA’s guided trade initiatives. We have deployed advanced digital solutions, including a new platform christened B’Odogwu, intended to improve transparency and efficiency by connecting all stakeholders on a unified system.”
Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), presented data on how digital identity systems will transform Nigeria’s trade landscape.
“This shift to digital trade presents an enormous opportunity for Nigeria to diversify its economy and leverage non-oil assets,” Coker-Odusote says, projecting substantial growth in business registrations through digital channels in the coming years.
Nigeria’s Strategic Role in AfCFTA Digital Trade
Dr. Salihu Dasuki Nakande, Special Assistant to the President on ICT Policy, describes Nigeria’s AfCFTA Digital Trade Champion status as a milestone for Africa’s digital economy.
According to Nakande, “AU’s endorsement of Nigeria as the AfCFTA Digital Trade Champion is a testament to our country’s strategic role in shaping the future of digital commerce across the continent.
“With this endorsement, Nigeria is not just a participant—we are leading the charge in designing the frameworks, policies, and innovations that will drive Africa’s digital economy forward.”
Aliyu Bunu Sheriff, Special Assistant to the President on Export Promotion, highlights the need for Nigeria to scale up non-oil exports.
“In 2024, Nigeria’s non-oil exports exceeded $5.4 billion, yet this is only a fraction of our true potential. To sustain economic growth, stabilize the naira, and create jobs, we must transition from a predominantly consumption-driven economy to one centred on production and value addition.
“The European Union imports over $120 billion worth of fruits and vegetables annually. If Plateau State, which is rich in fruits and vegetables, captures just 2-5% of this, that translates to $2.4 billion to $6 billion in exports,” Sheriff adds.
Global perspectives on AfCFTA Digital Trade
Max Mendez-Parra, Principal Research Fellow at Overseas Development Institute (ODI), highlights the importance of AfCFTA’s Digital Trade Protocol.
“The AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade certainly has the potential to advance digitally-driven industrialization in Africa by fostering a conducive environment for digital commerce and innovation.
“To fully harness the benefits of the AfCFTA DTP and realise the opportunities it offers, Nigeria’s public and private sectors need a robust implementation strategy that would also improve domestic regulations and unlock growth in GDP, employment, and digital trade,” Mendez-Parra says.
Similarly, Mark Smithson, Country Director for the British High Commission’s Department for Business and Trade in Nigeria, described AfCFTA as a transformational trade agreement.
“AfCFTA,” Smithson says, “holds the potential to be a game changer for Nigeria’s inclusive economic change, driving industrial growth, generating jobs and delivering inclusive prosperity across the continent as well as in Nigeria.”
Home