AU endorses Nigeria as champion of AfCFTA digital trade

*The African Union endorses Nigeria as the Digital Trade Champion for the continent under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Digital Trade protocol due to the West African country’s impressive record of promoting digital enterprise and innovation

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

For the country’s impressive record of promoting digital enterprise and innovation, the African Union (AU) has endorsed Nigeria as the Digital Trade Champion for the continent under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) Digital Trade protocol.

The 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, which ended Sunday, February 17, 2025, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, recognised Nigeria’s proactive role in advancing the implementation of the digital trade protocol adopted February 2024.

Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, stated that the protocol featured an agenda to develop eight annexes covering critical areas.

Onanuga stated these include rules of origin, digital identities, cross-border data transfers, legitimate and legal public interest reasons for disclosing source code, online safety and security, emerging and advanced technologies, and financial technology.

The Federal Government noted that a former President of Niger Republic and AU AfCFTA champion, Mahamadou Issoufou, his annual report on the progress of the AfCFTA’s digital trade protocol, lauded Nigeria’s leadership for convening the Digital Economy Roundtable January 2025.

Issoufou stated that the gathering was pivotal in driving the digital trade agenda forward.

He further said: “No organisation, region, or continent has negotiated or adopted such a comprehensive legal instrument on digital trade, positioning the African continent to benefit from the digital economy for innovation and job creation.”

The former Nigerien leader observed that young Africans are leaders in the digital innovation space, particularly in mobile banking and other digitally enabled services.

Issoufou also said: “The AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade will establish a conducive environment for these young people to fully participate in Africa’s digital economy.”

Reflecting on the Digital Economy Roundtable in Abuja, Issoufou commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration for convening the event and inviting the AfCFTA Secretariat to participate.

Former Nigerien President in his progress report to the 38th Assembly, stated: “The Roundtable was attended by young pioneers in Fintech, mobile banking and other areas of the digital economy.

”It was evident from the discussions that young people are eager to take advantage of Africa’s digital economy through the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade.”

On significance of AU’s endorsement of Nigeria

As regards the significance of the AU endorsement of Nigeria,

Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Honourable Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, told the audience at the summit: “Africa has demonstrated global leadership by pioneering the first-of-its-kind AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade—establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework.

“The Assembly of Heads of State and Government has officially designated Nigeria as AfCFTA Digital Trade Champion.”

The Minister said: “The AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol is a game changer in advancing Africa’s economic development.

“It is set to create millions of jobs for Africa’s growing, tech-savvy youth, contribute billions to the continent’s GDP and attract substantial investments for public digital infrastructure across African nations.”

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