AU names Nigeria as AfCFTA Digital Trade Champion

Kunle Sanni

The African Union (AU) has officially endorsed Nigeria as the Digital Trade Champion under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Trade Protocol, recognizing the country’s leadership in promoting digital enterprise and innovation.

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

According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, spokesperson to the president on Monday, the summit acknowledged Nigeria’s active role in advancing the digital trade protocol, which was adopted in February 2024.

The AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol aims to establish a regulatory framework for key digital trade areas, including rules of origin, digital identities, cross-border data transfers, public interest disclosures of source code, online safety, emerging technologies, and financial technology.

In his annual report on the protocol’s progress, former Nigerien President and AU AfCFTA Champion Mahamadou Issoufou praised Nigeria’s efforts, particularly for hosting the Digital Economy Roundtable in January. He described the event as a pivotal moment in accelerating Africa’s digital trade agenda.

“No organisation, region, or continent has negotiated or adopted such a comprehensive legal instrument on digital trade,” Issoufou said. “This positions Africa to fully benefit from the digital economy for innovation and job creation.”

Issoufou also highlighted Africa’s youthful population as a driving force in digital innovation, particularly in mobile banking and fintech services. He expressed confidence that the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol would provide an enabling environment for young entrepreneurs to thrive.

Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, described Nigeria’s recognition as a major milestone.

“Africa has demonstrated global leadership by pioneering the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade—establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework,” she said. “The designation of Nigeria as AfCFTA Digital Trade Champion is a game changer. It will create millions of jobs, contribute billions to the continent’s GDP, and attract substantial investments in public digital infrastructure.”

The AU’s endorsement reaffirms Nigeria’s growing influence in Africa’s digital economy and strengthens its role in shaping the future of digital trade across the continent.