Nigeria is poised to lead Africa’s digital trade revolution through emerging technologies, leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3tn market, the National Information Technology Development Agency has said.

The Director-General of the tech agency, Kashifu Inuwa, made this disclosure in a keynote address at the Nigeria AfCFTA Hackathon 2025, part of the Science of Trade Conference in Lagos.

Represented by the Director of Digital Economy Development, Salisu Kaka, the NITDA chief highlighted the transformative potential of blockchain, AI, and digital platforms in driving efficiency and inclusivity across the AfCFTA’s market.

“Nigeria’s 200 million population and entrepreneurial spirit position it to spearhead this transformation,” he said, citing the recent adoption of the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol as a game-changer for harmonizing regulations and opening markets.

The hackathon, aligned with the African Union’s 2024 endorsement of the protocol, focuses on five key areas: youth and MSME inclusion, e-commerce adoption, e-commerce policy and trust, digital payments, and regulatory sandboxes.

Inuwa emphasised that innovations in these sectors could streamline cross-border transactions and empower small businesses globally. “From Abuja, I can order, pay, and receive goods seamlessly; technology is erasing trade barriers,” he noted.

Inuwa pointed to the Nigeria Customs Service as a success story, with its Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System boosting revenue by 238 per cent from 2017 to 2023 through automated processes.

He said the Unified Customs Management System, launched in December 2024, has already generated over N31bn, underscoring Nigeria’s digital trade progress.

National Coordinator of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Dr Olusegun Awolowo, stressed the need for collaborative innovation to realize AfCFTA’s potential. He was represented by Olusegun Olutayo.

This hackathon is a tangible step toward implementing the Digital Trade Protocol, prioritising inclusion and equitable access,” he said, envisioning Africa as a unified digital trade hub.