Within the context of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, the Federal Government of Nigeria unveiled a comprehensive plan on Friday to drive the continent’s digital trade revolution. The programme 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.
According to Vice President Kashim Shettima, Nigeria is “in a unique position to spearhead the continent’s technological transformation,” according to a statement that was uploaded on X (previously Twitter). Shettima claims 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.
At the Presidential Villa in Abuja, he made this statement while giving the keynote address of a stakeholders summit with the topic “Digital Trade in Africa: The Renewed Hope Strategy.”
Shettima guaranteed ongoing government investment in digital infrastructure and human capital development while highlighting the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors.
The Tinubu administration has made significant investments in all facets of the digital trade protocol, with the goal of utilising prospects in Nigeria and around the continent, according to Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy Bosun Tijjani.
He went into detail on how cutting-edge laws and initiatives, such the data privacy legislation, the 3 Million Technical Talent project, and greater spending on digital infrastructure, were preparing Nigeria’s youth for both present and future prospects.
Tijjani emphasised the crucial role that technology plays in promoting trade throughout Africa, pointing out that the best way to take advantage of the exceptional prospects found in the single market area is to use digital technology to facilitate efficient networking and collaboration.
