The Federal Government has intensified efforts to position Nigerian businesses for greater participation in continental trade, taking its African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) campaign directly to stakeholders in Kano State.
Leading the charge, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, spearheaded a Sub-national AfCFTA Public-Private-Press (P3) Engagement Tour in Kano from April 27 to 28, 2026. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to unlock opportunities within the AfCFTA framework, which offers access to a $3.4 trillion market spanning over 1.4 billion people across Africa.
Speaking at the event, Oduwole emphasized the need for collaboration to translate policy into tangible economic outcomes. She described Kano as a historic commercial hub with strong potential to drive regional trade and highlighted Nigeria’s progress under AfCFTA, including tariff implementation, ratification of the digital trade protocol, and the introduction of air cargo corridors from Abuja and Lagos to ease exports.
According to her, AfCFTA represented a practical pathway for scaling Nigerian businesses across the continent, noting that the government is committed to bringing such opportunities closer to grassroots entrepreneurs.
Representing the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Umar Faruq Ibrahim, reiterated the state’s readiness to leverage AfCFTA for economic growth. He disclosed plans to train 50,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), with a focus on women and youth, to boost export capacity and competitiveness.
Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Chris Osa Isokpunwu, described the engagement as a transition from policy discussions to real implementation. He stressed that success would be measured by increased trade volumes and measurable economic impact rather than projections.
Also speaking, Kano State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Danjuma Mohammed, underscored the importance of building capacity among local producers to meet export standards, particularly in agriculture, to fully benefit from continental trade opportunities.
Key stakeholders from both public and private sectors identified sectors such as agro-processing, textiles, leather, and digital trade as areas where Kano holds significant comparative advantage. They also pointed to Nigeria’s improving non-oil export performance as an indication of readiness for deeper integration into African markets.
National Coordinator of Nigeria’s AfCFTA Coordination Office, Mrs. Patience Okala, announced the introduction of simplified tools to guide businesses through export procedures, emphasizing a shift toward practical results. Similarly, Director-General of the Nigeria Office for Trade Negotiations, Sanusi Garba Rikiji, called for actionable steps to ensure the agreement delivers tangible trade outcomes.
Development finance institutions, including Afreximbank, reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Nigerian businesses through trade financing, industrialisation, and infrastructure development.
The engagement featured technical sessions, export simulations, and regulatory clinics aimed at simplifying export processes and strengthening the capacity of MSMEs and informal traders. It also aligns with initiatives such as the “One Local Government, One Export Product” programme.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to ensuring that AfCFTA drives inclusive economic growth, positioning Nigerian businesses at the centre of Africa’s evolving trade ecosystem.
