Nigeria named Africa’s digital trade champion by African Union

In a landmark decision, the African Union (AU) has officially designated Nigeria as the Digital Trade Champion for the continent under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Trade Protocol.

This recognition comes in light of Nigeria’s outstanding contributions to digital enterprise and innovation, reinforcing its leadership role in Africa’s evolving digital economy.

The announcement was made at the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, which concluded on Sunday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The AU commended Nigeria for its proactive efforts in accelerating the implementation of the Digital Trade Protocol, which was adopted in February 2024.

The AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol seeks to establish a structured framework for digital trade across the continent, with provisions spanning eight critical annexes.

These include rules of origin, digital identities, cross-border data transfers, legitimate public interest reasons for disclosing source code, online safety and security, emerging and advanced technologies, and financial technology.

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Mahamadou Issoufou, former President of Niger Republic and AU AfCFTA Champion, highlighted Nigeria’s instrumental role in shaping the continent’s digital trade future.

In his annual progress report on the AfCFTA’s digital trade protocol, Issoufou applauded Nigeria for organizing the Digital Economy Roundtable in January, a crucial forum that facilitated robust discussions on Africa’s digital economy.

“No organization, region, or continent has negotiated or adopted such a comprehensive legal instrument on digital trade. This positions Africa to fully harness the opportunities within the digital economy, fostering innovation and job creation,” Issoufou remarked.

He further emphasized Africa’s growing dominance in digital innovation, particularly in mobile banking and digital financial services, noting that young Africans are at the forefront of this transformation.

“The AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade will establish a conducive environment for these young people to thrive and fully participate in Africa’s digital economy,” Issoufou added.

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Reflecting on the pivotal Digital Economy Roundtable in Abuja, Issoufou praised President Bola Tinubu and his administration for convening the high-profile event and inviting the AfCFTA Secretariat.

He noted that the discussions at the Roundtable demonstrated young Africans’ eagerness to seize opportunities within the continent’s digital economy.

“The Roundtable brought together pioneers in FinTech, mobile banking, and various digital sectors. The enthusiasm and innovative drive displayed by the youth underscore Africa’s readiness to lead in digital trade,” Issoufou stated.

Speaking at the summit, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, underscored the transformative impact of Nigeria’s new role as AfCFTA Digital Trade Champion.

“Africa has demonstrated global leadership by pioneering the first-of-its-kind AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade—establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework,” Dr. Oduwole said.

She further emphasized the economic significance of the Digital Trade Protocol, stating that it would revolutionize Africa’s economic landscape by creating millions of jobs for the continent’s tech-savvy youth, adding billions to its GDP, and attracting significant investments in public digital infrastructure.

With Nigeria at the helm of digital trade advocacy, Africa is poised to solidify its status as a major player in the global digital economy.

The AU’s endorsement of Nigeria underscores the country’s commitment to fostering innovation, regulatory excellence, and inclusive economic growth through digital trade.

As the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol moves into full implementation, stakeholders anticipate increased intra-African trade, enhanced digital infrastructure, and more robust cross-border collaborations, paving the way for a digitally empowered Africa.