The Nigerian Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to accelerating non-oil exports as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope 8-Point Agenda.
Speaking at a panel session during the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, Dr Oduwole said the ministry is working across several critical sectors to advance trade, investment, and export diversification, positioning Nigeria to take full advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“The Renewed Hope 8-Point Agenda has Item No. 7 as Accelerating Non-Oil Exports, and this works across several pillar critical ministries, of which the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment serves as an enabler and facilitator,” Oduwole stated.
At the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit @officialNESG, I joined a high-level plenary highlighting Nigeria’s leadership in shaping Africa’s trade future.
Our goal is clear: move from exporting commodities to exporting innovation, skills & sustainability under the #AfCFTA. 🌍🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/HsS4Yb40DL
— Dr Jumoke Oduwole (@joduwole) October 6, 2025
She explained that the ministry had reviewed Nigeria’s trade policies and relationships, identifying new strategic partners while strengthening ties with existing allies.
According to her, the Ministry’s 2025 Outlook document outlined key priorities — including investment mobilisation, trade policy reform, industrial policy enhancement, and driving export diversification.
Highlighting recent achievements, Oduwole disclosed that Nigeria became the first country to complete and publicly release a five-year review of AfCFTA implementation, fulfilling a key requirement of the continental agreement.
“We also initiated a committee, a coordination committee, a central coordination committee for AFCFTA, to make sure that all stakeholders in the country know which direction and the implementation roadmap is clear, and that was inaugurated in Q2. I chaired that committee, and we started our roadmaps,” she said.
Oduwale disclosed that Nigeria submitted its schedule of tariffs to the AfCFTA Secretariat and has been recognised by the African Union as Digital Trade Co-Champion, with President Tinubu commended for his leadership in advancing digital trade on the continent.
The minister also revealed the establishment of a Nigeria–Uganda Air Cargo Corridor, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to boost trade in goods such as apparel, light manufacturing, and cosmetics across 13 African countries.
“We also developed a Trade Intelligence Toolkit to guide businesses, and trade through the Air Cargo Corridor has already commenced,” she noted.
On digital trade, Oduwole said the ministry conducted a survey in April that revealed Nigerian tech companies’ interest in expanding into Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Egypt, and South Africa. Regulators from these countries recently met in Abuja with Nigerian counterparts to discuss frameworks for cross-border expansion and innovation sandboxes.
Oduwole added that the government is negotiating new trade and investment partnerships with countries in the Gulf region and Brazil, while revamping Nigeria’s free trade zones and tax infrastructure to attract private investment and facilitate industrial growth.
“We are not only reforming the policy space but also moving decisively into practical implementation,” she added.