The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is no longer in the stage of policy discussions and diplomatic signatures alone, according to the Federal Government, which says the continent has now stepped into a decisive phase focused on execution, business expansion, and real economic integration.
At the centre of this renewed push is Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, who used the Biashara Africa 2026 forum as a platform to press African governments and private-sector players to shift from commitment to action and begin actively trading across borders without friction.
She argued that Africa has already done the hard work of negotiation and agreement-building, and must now prioritize implementation that directly impacts businesses and citizens across the continent.
“As discussions continue at Biashara Africa 2026, one message remains clear: Africa has negotiated, signed, and agreed. Now, Africa must trade.”
Visa Reforms and Policy Shifts Signal New Era of African Integration
A major talking point at the forum was the growing wave of policy reforms aimed at easing movement across African borders, with particular emphasis on recent decisions that reflect a more open continental market.
Oduwole highlighted the announcement by the Government of Togo to remove visa requirements for African passport holders and investors on short stays, describing it as a practical example of AfCFTA’s vision beginning to take shape beyond theory.
“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,” Oduwole stated.
She further commended Togo’s leadership for what she described as a bold and strategic step toward strengthening intra-African mobility, investment flows, and cross-border commerce.
“We commend His Excellency President Faure Gnassingbé and the Government of Togo for taking decisive action that advances the spirit and objectives of the AfCFTA Agreement and reinforces Africa’s commitment to becoming a truly integrated market of over 1.4 billion people.”
According to her, such reforms are critical because they directly reduce one of the continent’s most persistent trade barriers: the difficulty of physically moving people, services, and capital across African countries.
Beyond Governments: Entrepreneurs Positioned as Key Drivers of AfCFTA
While policy reforms are gaining momentum, the minister stressed that the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area will ultimately depend on how actively African businesses respond to the new opportunities being created.
She warned that governments alone cannot deliver the transformation AfCFTA promises unless entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and digital innovators step forward to build regional value chains and scale beyond domestic markets.
“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.
The message reflects a growing consensus among policymakers that Africa’s trade transformation must be private-sector led, especially in high-growth areas such as fintech, logistics, agribusiness, e-commerce, and digital services.
New Startup Programme Targets African Expansion and Global Markets
To accelerate this shift from policy to practical outcomes, Oduwole announced a new initiative—the AfCFTA Startup Acceleration Programme 2026—developed under the AfCFTA–Korea Africa Foundation partnership.
The programme is designed to support 30 high-potential African startups, helping them scale across borders and access international markets, with a strong focus on South Korea as a strategic global partner.
“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, designed to support 30 high-potential African startups to scale beyond Africa and access global markets, especially Korea.”
She explained that the initiative will provide participating startups with structured support to refine their business models, strengthen competitiveness, and prepare for expansion into wider markets.
Startups in sectors such as fintech, logistics, agritech, manufacturing, e-commerce, and digital platforms are expected to be among the key beneficiaries.
“This programme presents a valuable opportunity for Nigerian startups operating in key sectors, including fintech, e-commerce, logistics, agritech, manufacturing, and digital platforms, to strengthen their business models, expand internationally, and position themselves for cross-border growth.”
Oduwole also encouraged eligible Nigerian founders to apply before the May 24, 2026 deadline, noting that Nigeria’s growing startup ecosystem places it in a strong position to benefit from continental trade integration.
“As Co-Champion of Digital Trade under the AfCFTA, we encourage eligible Nigerian startups to apply and take advantage of this opportunity,” she added.
AfCFTA’s Broader Economic Promise for Africa and Nigeria
Since its launch in 2021, the African Continental Free Trade Area—covering 54 African countries—has been described as one of the largest free trade zones in the world, designed to boost intra-African trade, industrialisation, and long-term economic growth.
However, experts continue to point out that Africa still trades far less with itself than other global regions, largely due to challenges such as weak transport infrastructure, restrictive visa regimes, fragmented regulations, and inefficient logistics systems.
Nigeria, as Africa’s largest economy, is widely seen as a central player in determining how successfully the agreement is implemented. With its large consumer base, expanding digital economy, and rapidly growing startup ecosystem, the country is expected to drive significant portions of intra-African trade growth.
If fully implemented, improved mobility, stronger digital trade systems, and startup expansion across borders could unlock new export opportunities for Nigerian businesses while reducing reliance on markets outside the continent.
