Former Nigerien President and AfCFTA Champion, Mahamadou Issoufou, has applauded Nigeria’s efforts in advancing digital trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
Presenting his annual report at the African Union Assembly, Issoufou highlighted key milestones, including the completion of eight annexes under the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol—the first of its kind globally.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Republic of Nigeria for taking concrete steps towards implementation. This includes hosting a high-level roundtable in January 2025, where the AfCFTA Secretary-General engaged with Nigerian tech innovators such as CcHUB, Norebase, Helium Health, and Bamboo. The event showcased Nigeria’s leadership in leveraging technology to boost intra-African trade.
President Tinubu had earlier, in December 2024, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening digital trade collaborations across Africa during an address in Cape Town, South Africa.
With this recognition, Nigeria continues to solidify its position as a key player in shaping Africa’s digital economy, setting the pace for other nations in the AfCFTA initiative.