By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
AFRICA’s PUSH for a robust digital economy has received a major boost with the designation of Nigeria as the continent’s Digital Trade Champion.
The African Union (AU) conferred this title at the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, acknowledging Nigeria’s leadership in driving the implementation of the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol.
The protocol, adopted in February 2024, covers a wide range of critical areas, including rules of origin, digital identities, cross-border data transfers, and the legalities of disclosing source code.
Nigeria’s proactive role in these discussions, particularly through the convening of the Digital Economy Roundtable in January, was praised by former Nigerien President and AfCFTA champion Mahamadou Issoufou.
Issoufou noted that no other region or continent has negotiated such a comprehensive digital trade framework, setting the stage for Africa to harness the full potential of the digital economy.
Issoufou highlighted the importance of the protocol in empowering young Africans, especially those involved in mobile banking and fintech.
He commended Nigeria for its leadership in supporting this initiative and creating a conducive environment for Africa’s youth to thrive in the digital economy.
Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, emphasised the global significance of Africa’s pioneering AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol.
She pointed out that the protocol is set to create millions of jobs, contribute billions to the continent’s GDP, and attract significant investments in public digital infrastructure across African nations.
