• AfCFTA
• VP Shettima

NIGERIA LEADS AFRICA’S DIGITAL TRADE REVOLUTION, TARGETS 10M NEW JOBS

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  Nicolas Adekeye / 2 weeks
• 0
• 2 min read

Nigeria has been officially designated as Africa’s Digital Trade Champion, a role that could help create over 10 million new jobs across the continent by the end of 2025. Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to leading Africa’s digital trade agenda under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, in a statement, said the Vice President, represented by the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, stated this on Wednesday during the AfCFTA Digital Trade Workshop and Global Market at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja. Nkwocha noted that Nigeria’s progress in digital commerce, services, and innovation, has positioned the country as the continent’s digital trade hub. “Our innovations in mobile payments have transformed cross-border payments, financial inclusion, and digital transactions across the continent,” VP Shettima stated. Nkwocha added that Nigeria’s appointment as Africa’s Digital Trade Champion followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s December 2024 pledge in Cape Town to champion the digital trade agenda for all Africans. Nkwocha also stated that the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol aims to increase intra-African trade from 18% in 2022 to 50% by 2030. With over 109 million internet users and a thriving mobile economy, Nigeria has the foundation to lead Africa’s digital commerce evolution, Nkwocha quoted VP Shettima as saying. Stanley Nkwocha further stated that the Internet economy is projected to contribute 5.2% of Africa’s GDP this year, with the continent’s digital economy expected to reach $180 billion, up from $115 billion in 2020. “Initiatives such as the Federal Ministry of Investment’s National Talent Export Programme, launched by the President in September 2023, the Outsource to Nigeria Initiative backed by the Office of the Vice President, and the 3 Million Technology Talents Programme of the Ministry of Innovation and Digital Economy are leading this growth and opening up opportunities for access to high-quality Nigerian talent at a global scale,” VP Shettima said. Stanley Nkwocha also quoted the Minister of Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, as describing the workshop as a welcome development, recalling that last year, President Tinubu had approved the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund to empower Nigeria’s young entrepreneurs and SMEs.