….Nigeria to host CANEX WKND 2026, prepares for Intra-African Trade Fair 2027
The Federal Government has called for stronger domestic implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as Nigeria assumes the chairmanship of the Bureau of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, made the call in Abuja during the third-quarter meeting of the Nigeria AfCFTA Central Coordination Committee (CCC), convened to review progress made during the quarter and develop priorities for the final quarter of 2026.
Oduwole said Nigeria’s assumption of the leadership of the Council of Ministers comes with greater responsibility to demonstrate effective coordination and practical implementation of the continental trade agreement.
“It is a particularly important moment for Nigeria. In addition to our responsibility to deepen the implementation of the AfCFTA domestically, Nigeria has now assumed the Chair of the Bureau of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers,” she said.
The minister noted that Nigeria also serves as Co-Champion of the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol, describing the country’s expanding leadership role as an opportunity to influence the development of Africa’s emerging single market.
According to her, the responsibility aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on economic transformation, industrialisation, investment, job creation and regional trade.
Oduwole said progress recorded in the previous quarter demonstrated the benefits of stronger collaboration among government institutions and the private sector.
She recalled that Nigeria successfully hosted the AfCFTA Week, which included the HerAfCFTA Regional Conference organised in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the 18th Meeting of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers and the second AfCFTA Digital Trade Forum.
The HerAfCFTA conference brought together exporters from eight African countries and helped strengthen discussions on women’s participation in trade, digital commerce and other issues affecting implementation of the continental agreement.
The minister also announced that Nigeria would host CANEX WKND 2026 in Lagos from November 5 to 8, bringing together players in Africa’s creative and cultural industries, investors and businesses.
Nigeria is also preparing to host the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2027 in Lagos following the signing of a host agreement with Afreximbank, the African Union Commission and the AfCFTA Secretariat.
“These are more than prestigious events. They are platforms through which we can showcase Nigerian enterprise, attract investment, connect our producers to continental buyers and position Nigeria at the centre of Africa’s emerging single market,” Oduwole said.
She charged the Central Coordination Committee to remain focused on implementation and accountability by clearly identifying agencies responsible for specific actions, setting timelines and escalating challenges requiring higher-level intervention.
In her remarks, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Mrs Patience Okala, said Nigeria’s chairmanship places additional responsibilities on government agencies and other stakeholders.
She explained that with the minister serving as Chair of the Bureau, Nigeria also assumes leadership of the institutional committees of the AfCFTA.
According to Okala, the development makes stronger coordination among ministries, departments, agencies and private-sector stakeholders particularly important in areas such as market access, trade facilitation and private-sector participation.
She identified Nigeria’s hosting of AfCFTA Week as one of the major achievements of the third quarter, noting that the events provided opportunities to advance discussions on women-owned and women-led businesses, digital trade and other continental trade priorities.
Okala said the ultimate measure of Nigeria’s AfCFTA implementation would be the number of Nigerian businesses taking advantage of the agreement and successfully entering markets across Africa.
“Ultimately, we need to see more Nigerian businesses trading under AfCFTA, more Nigerian products entering African markets, stronger connections between producers and buyers, and businesses better positioned to access finance, meet standards and compete effectively,” she said.
She added that the CCC must help translate the AfCFTA from a continental policy framework into tangible economic opportunities for Nigerian businesses and citizens.
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