Abuja, July 19, 2024 – The federal government has launched a strategy for Nigeria to lead Africa’s digital trade revolution through the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
Vice President Kashim Shettima announced the strategy in Abuja on Friday while delivering the keynote address during a Stakeholders Summit with the theme: “Digital Trade in Africa: The Renewed Hope Strategy”.
The strategy is part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu’s administration to deploy trade as a catalyst for economic growth and continental cohesion in line with AfCFTA objectives.
Shettima said Nigeria is in a vantage position within the AfCTA and as the continent’s largest ICT hub, “we must lead the way to the future of this peculiar wave of the Industrial Revolution.
“Our collaboration must prioritize comparisons of our policy initiatives to those of developed economies and fine-tune them to sustain our place and fast-track our growth.”
The vice president outlined key components of the roadmap to include the implementation of AfCFTA’s Digital Trade Protocol and the development of expansive technical talent hubs.
The plan, according to him, also focuses “on enhancing digital infrastructure investments, promoting disruptive innovation and entrepreneurship, and ensuring the alignment of multiple government agencies to support digital trade initiatives.”
The plan, according to him, also focuses “on enhancing digital infrastructure investments, promoting disruptive innovation and entrepreneurship, and ensuring the alignment of multiple government agencies to support digital trade initiatives.”
“They offer us an avenue to not only maximize our potential but also commit to the adoption of the Digital Trade Protocol within AfCFTA,” VP Shettima said.
Dr Bosun Tijjani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, said the Tinubu administration had been investing significantly in every aspect of the digital trade protocol, to harness opportunities in the country and continent at large.
He said through innovative policies and programmes such as the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, data protection policy and improved investments in digital infrastructure, the administration is equipping the country’s young population for the opportunities of the present and future.
Tijjani said opportunities that existed within the single market area were unprecedented and could best be harnessed through effective collaboration and networking facilitated by digital technology.
Dr. Salihu Dasuki Nakande, the Special Assistant to the President on ICT Policy, commended the president and Vice President for their commitment and dedication to the Renewed Hope Agenda, which he said, had laid a solid foundation for the digital transformation journey in the countr
He said their continuous support had led to the discourse on digital transformation which would equally lead to a prosperous Nigeria. (GBN)
