Nigeria is poised to lead the digital trade revolution across the African continent through the $3 trillion market of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
As the sixth most populous country in the world, Nigeria has the potential to carry out this ambitious project.
This vision for Nigeria was shared by the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, during the opening address of the “Nigeria AfCFTA Hackathon 2025.”
“Nigeria’s 200 million population and entrepreneurial spirit will enable it to lead this transformation,”
Inuwa said, describing the adoption of the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol as a major milestone that will harmonize regulations and open up markets across the continent.
Aligned with the African Union’s 2024 endorsement of this protocol, the hackathon focuses on five core areas: youth and SME inclusion, e-commerce adoption, e-commerce policies and trust, digital payments, and regulatory sandboxes.
Technology is eliminating some of the problems associated with traditional trade. Public adoption of technology could have a sustainable and positive impact on Nigeria’s economic development.
Inuwa cited the Nigeria Customs Service as a successful example, noting that automation increased revenue by 238% over six years. He also added that the Unified Customs Management System, launched in December 2024, has already generated more than 31 billion Naira in revenue.