The Federal Government has declared that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has moved beyond negotiations and entered a critical implementation phase, urging Nigerian entrepreneurs and digital businesses to take the lead in driving cross-border trade across Africa.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, made the call during discussions at the Biashara Africa 2026 forum, where she challenged African leaders, policymakers, and businesses to dismantle barriers limiting intra-African trade and investment.
According to a statement issued on Thursday, Oduwole said Africa had spent years negotiating agreements and signing protocols and must now focus on practical implementation capable of delivering economic opportunities for businesses and citizens.
The minister, who spoke as the incoming Chair of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers, said recent policy actions across the continent demonstrated growing commitment to regional integration and economic cooperation.
“As discussions continue at Biashara Africa 2026, one message remains clear: Africa has negotiated, signed, and agreed. Now, Africa must trade,” she stated.
Oduwole highlighted the recent decision by the Government of Togo to remove visa requirements for African passport holders and investors travelling into the country for short stays, describing it as a major milestone for continental integration.
“A significant milestone has been recorded for African economic integration – the announcement by the Government of Togo to remove visa requirements for African passport holders and investors travelling into the country for short stays. This is another important signal that Africa is moving from aspiration to action,” she said.
The minister commended President Faure Gnassingbé and the Togolese government for taking steps that support the objectives of the AfCFTA agreement and strengthen Africa’s ambition of building a connected market of over 1.4 billion people.
She noted that easier movement across African borders would help reduce bureaucratic obstacles that continue to discourage trade, investment, and business partnerships across the continent.
According to Oduwole, the long-term success of AfCFTA will depend not only on government policies but also on the willingness of African businesses, manufacturers, innovators, and startups to expand beyond local markets and build continental value chains.
“The future of the AfCFTA will not be built by policy alone. It will be driven by enterprises, innovators, manufacturers, digital platforms, and entrepreneurs who are ready to trade,” she stated.
As part of efforts to deepen implementation of the trade agreement, Oduwole announced the launch of the AfCFTA Startup Acceleration Programme 2026 under the AfCFTA–Korea Africa Foundation partnership.
She explained that the initiative is designed to support 30 high-potential African startups seeking to scale internationally and gain access to global markets, particularly South Korea.
According to the minister, the programme will help participating startups strengthen their business models, improve competitiveness, and position themselves for international expansion.
She added that Nigerian startups operating in sectors such as fintech, e-commerce, logistics, agritech, manufacturing, and digital platforms stand to benefit significantly from the initiative.
“To support this transition from agreement to action, Dr Oduwole announces the AfCFTA Startup Acceleration Programme 2026, a flagship initiative under the AfCFTA–Korea Africa Foundation partnership,” the statement noted.
The minister urged eligible Nigerian startups to apply for the programme and position themselves at the forefront of Africa’s emerging digital trade ecosystem.
“As Co-Champion of Digital Trade under the AfCFTA, we encourage eligible Nigerian startups to apply and take advantage of this opportunity,” she added.
The application deadline for the programme is May 24, 2026.
The African Continental Free Trade Area officially commenced trading in January 2021 and is regarded as one of the world’s largest free trade areas, bringing together 54 African countries into a single market aimed at boosting intra-African trade, industrialisation, and economic growth.
Despite Africa’s economic potential and population size, experts have repeatedly pointed to infrastructure deficits, visa restrictions, poor logistics systems, and regulatory bottlenecks as major barriers limiting trade among African countries.
Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy by GDP, is expected to play a key role in the implementation of the agreement due to its large consumer market, growing digital economy, manufacturing sector, and expanding startup ecosystem.
Analysts believe that improved mobility across African borders, combined with digital trade reforms and stronger support for startups, could unlock new export opportunities for Nigerian businesses and reduce dependence on markets outside the continent.
