The Federal Government of Nigeria unveiled a comprehensive plan on Friday to drive the continent’s digital trade revolution aligning with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement framework.
This was disclosed by the Vice President, Kassim Shettima while delivering a keynote address during a stakeholders summit with the theme “Digital Trade in Africa: The Renewed Hope Strategy,” at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The program is a crucial part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to use trade as a catalyst for continental unification and economic progress in accordance with the goals of the AfCFTA.
“Nigeria is in a unique position to spearhead the continent’s technological transformation,” Vice President Kashim Shettima said in a statement posted on X.
Shettima said that the plan entails putting the Digital Trade Protocol of the AfCFTA into practice, creating technical talent clusters, increasing investments in digital infrastructure, and encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation.
Shettima assured ongoing government investment in digital infrastructure and human capital development while emphasizing the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, highlighted the Tinubu administration’s substantial investments in all aspects of the digital trade protocol, aiming to harness opportunities both in Nigeria and across the continent.
He explained how innovative policies and initiatives, like the 3 Million Technical Talent program, the data privacy legislation, and greater spending on digital infrastructure, were preparing Nigeria’s youth for opportunities both now and in the future.
Tijani emphasized the crucial role that technology plays in promoting trade throughout Africa, pointing out that the best way to take advantage of the exceptional potential found in the single market area is to use digital technology to facilitate efficient networking and collaboration.
