Bern (Switzerland), March 28, 2025 – Nigeria has called on global partners to support its efforts to expand market access and accelerate its digital trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),
Aliyu Bunu Sheriff, the Special Assistant to the President on Export Expansions, made the call on Thursday at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Aid for Trade Session in Geneva, Switzerland.
“Nigeria recognises digital trade as a critical driver of economic diversification. Our goal is to position Nigeria as a regional hub for digital services, streamline trade processes, and expand market access for Nigerian businesses.
“With the right policies and infrastructure, Africa can unlock the full potential of its $4.3 trillion market under AfCFTA.”
Sheriff said Nigeria had launched series of high-impact workshops aimed at streamlining trade processes, enhancing state-level exports, and leveraging digital identity and payment systems for cross-border commerce with the collaboration of the Overseas Development Institute (ODI UK)..
“The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, has played a key role in advancing Nigeria’s digital trade agenda. She recently led discussions with the AfCFTA Secretary-General on enhancing regional trade integration and digital payment systems.
“Her leadership has been instrumental in aligning Nigeria’s trade policies with AfCFTA’s digital transformation goals.”
Sheriff called on WTO, development partners, and private sector stakeholders to invest in broadband infrastructure, support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) capacity-building, and facilitate seamless cross-border digital payments.
“Nigeria is not just participating in Africa’s digital trade transformation; we are leading it. We invite global partners to collaborate with us in unlocking Africa’s digital economy,” he said.
