By Chinwendu Obienyi and Chukwuma Umeorah
With less than six months to the fourth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) in Algiers, Algeria, the federal government is intensifying efforts to mobilise Nigeria’s private sector, positioning the country to strengthen its participation in Africa’s $3.4 trillion single market under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking during a Lagos roadshow via Zoom, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, called on Nigerian entrepreneurs to seize the IATF2025 as a launchpad for regional expansion. She described the trade fair as “not just an exhibition, but a bridge to markets, partners, and policy dialogue across the continent.”
“This is Nigeria’s opportunity to lead from the front in operationalising the AfCFTA,” Oduwole said.
Organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union and the AfCFTA Secretariat, IATF2025 will run from September 4 to 10 in Algiers under the theme, “Harnessing Regional and Continental Value Chains: Accelerating Africa’s Industrialization and Global Competitiveness under the AfCFTA.” The fair is expected to attract thousands of buyers, sellers, investors, and policymakers from across Africa and the diaspora.
Dr. Oduwole also disclosed that the federal government will launch Nigeria’s national intellectual property policy and strategy before the end of July. She underscored the importance of the creative economy in trade and industrial growth, adding: “As we talk about expanding our mindsets and unlocking new markets, we must recognise the creative economy as a serious trade frontier.”
She highlighted initiatives like Canex (Creative Africa Nexus) as proof that Africa’s cultural sectors—ranging from fashion and film to food and publishing—are commercially viable. “Canex is helping turn cultural power into real trade and investment, and we must lean all the way into it,” she said. “At FMITI, we are working to launch Nigeria’s national intellectual property policy and strategy this summer. This will be a game-changer for creators and innovators.”
Oduwole added that the ministry is working with Afreximbank, the Bank of Industry (BOI), and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to enhance SME competitiveness, expand access to trade finance, and strengthen special economic zones as export hubs.
Echoing the minister’s remarks, NEPC Executive Director Nonye Ayeni stressed the importance of moving from ambition to execution in Nigeria’s export strategy. “Our SMEs are the engine of export-led growth. We are supporting them to standardise, brand, and access new markets across Africa,” she said.
Ayeni also announced the establishment of a National Preparatory Committee for IATF2025, which will coordinate Nigeria’s participation by engaging stakeholders across government, industry, and the creative economy.
So far, Nigeria has consistently ranked among the top five exhibitors at previous editions of the fair and contributed significantly to the over $43 billion in trade and investment deals facilitated since 2018. However, stakeholders agree that the country has the capacity to do more.
Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President of Intra-African Trade Bank at Afreximbank, emphasised the need for a broader Nigerian presence beyond commodities. “Nigeria’s creative, tech, and service sectors must show up in full force. We want to see more intra-African contracts being signed by Nigerian businesses—not just buyers and sellers,” she said.
Awani noted that Nigeria is one of the top beneficiaries of Afreximbank’s $40 billion trade financing programme and encouraged Nigerian firms to explore new trade corridors such as Lagos–Dakar and Lagos–Abidjan, which are gaining traction under the AfCFTA’s Guided Trade Initiative.
Looking beyond participation, the federal government is using IATF2025 as a strategic platform to promote Made-in-Nigeria products, attract foreign direct investment, and showcase recent reforms in customs digitisation, trade facilitation, and logistics infrastructure.
Nigeria’s national pavilion at IATF2025 is expected to host over 150 companies spanning manufacturing, agriculture, fashion, technology, film, and professional services.
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