The African Union (AU) has officially designated Nigeria as the Digital Trade Champion under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Trade Protocol. This recognition follows Nigeria’s strong track record in fostering digital enterprise and innovation.
The endorsement came at the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, which concluded on Sunday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The summit acknowledged Nigeria’s proactive leadership in implementing the digital trade protocol, which was adopted in February 2024.
The protocol outlines plans for eight annexes addressing key areas, including rules of origin, digital identities, cross-border data transfers, disclosure of source code for legitimate public interest reasons, online safety and security, emerging technologies, and financial technology.
In his annual report on the progress of AfCFTA’s digital trade protocol, Mahamadou Issoufou, former president of Niger Republic and AU AfCFTA champion, commended Nigeria’s role in advancing the digital trade agenda. He highlighted the importance of the Digital Economy Roundtable, convened by Nigeria in January, as a milestone event.
“No organization, region, or continent has negotiated or adopted such a comprehensive legal instrument on digital trade. This positions Africa to fully harness the digital economy for innovation and job creation,” Issoufou said.
He emphasized that young Africans are at the forefront of digital innovation, particularly in mobile banking and other technology-driven services.
“The AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade will provide a conducive environment for these young innovators to thrive in Africa’s digital economy,” he added.
Reflecting on the Digital Economy Roundtable in Abuja, Issoufou praised President Bola Tinubu and his administration for organizing the event and involving the AfCFTA Secretariat.
“The Roundtable brought together young pioneers in fintech, mobile banking, and other digital sectors. Their enthusiasm underscored the vast potential of Africa’s digital economy under the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol,” he noted in his progress report to the 38th Assembly.
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Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, underscored the significance of Nigeria’s recognition by the AU:
“Africa has demonstrated global leadership by pioneering the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade—the first of its kind—establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework. The official designation of Nigeria as AfCFTA Digital Trade Champion is a game changer for Africa’s economic future.
The protocol is poised to create millions of jobs for the continent’s tech-savvy youth, boost GDP by billions, and attract substantial investment in public digital infrastructure across African nations.”
