The African Union (AU) officially designated Nigeria as the Digital Trade Champion under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Trade Protocol. This recognition highlights Nigeria’s leadership in fostering and driving digital innovation and enterprise across the continent.
The AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa at their 38th leaders’ summit acknowledged Nigeria’s proactive role in advancing the Digital Trade Protocol, which was adopted in February 2024. The protocol sets a transformative framework covering key areas such as digital identities, cross-border data transfers, fintech, cyber security and emerging technologies to boost Africa’s Digital Economy.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Jumoke Oduwole described the AU’s endorsement as a great achievement for Africa’s economic future. She noted that the protocol is poised to create millions of jobs, contribute billions to GDP and attract major investments in digital infrastructure.
Former Nigerien President and AU
AfCFTA Champion Mahamadou Issoufou commended Nigeria’s commitment and efforts, particularly for hosting the D
igital Economy Roundtable in January this year. He emphasized that Africa is pioneering a comprehensive dig
ital trade framework, unlocking new opportunities for youth-led innovation in fintech, mobile banking and e-commerce.
With this milestone, Nigeria strengthens its position as a catalyst and key driver for Africa’s digital transformation, setting the stage for a more integrated and tech-driven continental economy.
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