In its bid to deepen the implementation and unlock the full potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area in Nigeria, the country’s AfCFTA Coordination Office, under the leadership of the National Coordinator, Mr Olusegun Awolowo, has endorsed the launch of the first-ever AfCFTA Hackathon in Nigeria with a N20m grand prize.

The initiative, led by Cherith-Code Concept Ltd, an International Trade Consortium, is supported by some partners, including Ascend Studios Foundation, Amazon Web Services, GFA Technologies, the National Information Technology Development Agency, and Real Sources Africa, a Kenya-based company.

This annual, high-impact project will focus on unpacking the opportunities presented by the newly adopted AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol, according to a statement from the AfCFTA Coordination Office.

The Senior Trade Expert and Lead at the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Mr Olusegun Olutayo, who also serves as Director of the Nigerian AfCFTA-Hackathon Project, said the Hackathon is an innovative, tech-driven challenge specifically designed with Nigeria’s enterprising youth in mind.

He said it aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, aiming to strengthen Nigeria’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Olutayo further emphasized that the initiative will expand opportunities under the AfCFTA framework, empowering Nigerian innovators to explore and dominate the continental market through digital trade. The platform will serve as a hub for developing competitive, practical, and innovative solutions to power digital trade across Africa.

Held as a flagship event at the Science of Trade Conference 2025, hosted by Ascend Studios Foundation, the maiden AfCFTA Hackathon is set to take place from May 1–3, 2025, in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial and tech innovation hub.

Convener of the SOT Conference, Dr Inya Lawal, expressed enthusiasm about the Hackathon’s transformative potential and the partnership with the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office.

The COO of Cherith-Code Concept says the Hackathon marks a pivotal shift in how Africa approaches digital trade. It sparks practical innovations that shape the continent’s economic future.

Described as the first-of-its-kind on the continent, the Hackathon seeks to drive the implementation of the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol, positioning Nigeria as a trailblazer in Africa’s evolving digital trade environment.

This initiative builds on the success of the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol workshops held in Lagos and Abuja in 2024, themed “Preparedness for AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol”, and attended by key stakeholders from the digital trade ecosystem.

The Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, is expected to attend the SOT Conference 2025 as a special guest. He will deliver a keynote address, serve on the Hackathon Jury Panel, and offer mentorship and strategic policy guidance during the event.

The statement said the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office invites all stakeholders, innovators, and tech enthusiasts to participate in this historic event.