Nigeria is strategically positioned to drive Africa’s emerging digital trade revolution, according to the Chief Economist of Afreximbank, Dr. Yemi Kale.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Africa Trade Center (ATC) in Abuja, Kale said Nigeria’s large population, fast-growing innovation ecosystem, and status as host of the first ATC make it a natural leader in the continent’s shift toward technology-driven commerce under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He explained that as global trade increasingly relies on digital systems, Africa must invest more in digital infrastructure, smart logistics, and data-powered platforms that can reduce transaction costs and expand market access for millions of small businesses.
Kale noted that digital innovation is the key to unlocking the full benefits of AfCFTA. The debate, he said, is no longer about whether Africa should adopt digital trade but about “how strategically and collaboratively we can lead it.”
According to him, the newly launched ATC was built as an integrated hub offering trade information, financing, logistics support, business promotion, and digital solutions within one ecosystem. The Abuja centre will serve as a model for a network of similar facilities planned for Harare, Cairo, Kampala, Tunis, Abidjan, Yaoundé, and even Barbados.
Kale highlighted the low level of intra-African trade — still between 15 and 18 per cent, compared to 60 per cent in Europe and 40 per cent in Asia — as evidence of fragmented markets, high logistics costs, and longstanding cross-border payment challenges.
He stressed that eliminating these barriers is crucial and argued that no African country is better placed than Nigeria to champion the next phase of digital-led trade integration, given its entrepreneurial energy and market size.
Afreximbank’s digital platforms — including the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), the MANSA due-diligence database, and the Africa Trade Gateway — are expected to strengthen intra-African trade by simplifying payments, verification, and market access.
Kale described the Abuja ATC as a demonstration of Afreximbank’s strong partnership with Nigeria. The facility, one of the most technologically advanced in the country, will host fairs, exhibitions, conferences, training programmes, and business advisory services aimed at boosting Nigeria’s participation in regional and global value chains.
He added that digital trade will play a critical role in Africa’s economic diversification, job creation, and overall resilience in a rapidly evolving tech-driven global economy. For Nigeria, he said, the benefits include new export opportunities, stronger supply chains, a boost for startups, and deeper progress in reducing dependence on oil revenue.
Afreximbank’s Manager of Real Estate and Administration, Oluwaseun Alabi, echoed this view, describing the ATC as a catalyst for transforming trade across Africa.
“This initiative is beyond constructing physical spaces. It is a comprehensive ecosystem where businesses can operate, collaborate, and grow without having to leave the centre,” Alabi said.
Kale expressed confidence that with the ATC and Nigeria’s vibrant private sector, the country is well positioned to lead Africa into a new era of integrated, technology-enabled trade.
