The Federal Government of Nigeria announced a comprehensive strategy on Friday to spearhead Africa’s digital trade revolution within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). This initiative is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to harness trade as a catalyst for economic growth and continental cohesion.
Vice President Kashim Shettima highlighted Nigeria’s unique position to lead the continent’s technological transformation during a keynote address at the Stakeholders Summit themed “Digital Trade in Africa: The Renewed Hope Strategy” in Abuja. He emphasized Nigeria’s role as the largest ICT hub in Africa and outlined a roadmap that includes implementing the AfCFTA’s Digital Trade Protocol and developing expansive technical talent hubs.
“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,” Shettima stated.
Key components of the strategy include enhancing digital infrastructure investments, promoting disruptive innovation and entrepreneurship, and ensuring government agencies align to support digital trade initiatives. The Vice President underscored the importance of public and private sector synergy in implementing the Digital Trade Protocol and affirmed the federal government’s commitment to investing in digital infrastructure and human capital development.
Senator Shettima cited ongoing programmes such as the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE), the initiative to train 3 million technical talents, and the Outsource to Nigeria Initiative (OTNI) as crucial to the country’s digital economy.
Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijjani, noted the significant investments by the Tinubu administration in digital trade protocols to harness opportunities across the continent. He highlighted innovative policies and programmes aimed at equipping Nigeria’s young population for present and future opportunities.
Dr. Salihu Dasuki Nakande, Special Assistant to the President on ICT Policy, thanked President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima for their commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda, which has laid a foundation for Nigeria’s digital transformation. He emphasized the necessity of speed and cohesion among African countries to ensure AfCFTA’s success.
The Head of Prosperity at the British Deputy High Commission, Mr. Kris Kamponi, and Senior Research Officer at ODI, Dr. Prachi Agarwal, commended Nigeria’s leadership in prioritizing digital trade and pledged support for the operationalization of the AfCFTA.
Key stakeholders, including the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Shippers Council, Mr. Pius Akutah, and the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, among others, were also present at the event.
