Nigeria’s ambassadors must drive intra-African trade – Group
The President Bola Tinubu-led administration has been urged to prepare the newly appointed ambassadors to serve as frontline drivers of intra-African trade, investment promotion, and private sector competitiveness. It would be recalled that the President has started posting career ambassadors and high commissioners as well as non-career ambassadors and high commissioners. In a statement, the […]
The President Bola Tinubu-led administration has been urged to prepare the newly appointed ambassadors to serve as frontline drivers of intra-African trade, investment promotion, and private sector competitiveness.
It would be recalled that the President has started posting career ambassadors and high commissioners as well as non-career ambassadors and high commissioners.
In a statement, the NEPAD Business Group Nigeria (NBGN) emphasised the need for deep knowledge and practical understanding of the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, as a key requirement to appoint new ambassadors.
It stressed that Nigeria’s diplomatic representation must be strategically aligned with AfCFTA objectives as Africa is repositioning its economy towards intra-African trade, regional value chains, and economic resilience.
“Ambassadors should no longer be only political envoys; they are increasingly economic diplomats whose effectiveness will be measured by their ability to promote trade, investment, and market access for Nigerian businesses,” the statement reads.
According to NBGN, AfCFTA represents a $3.4 trillion market for over 1.4 billion people, offering Nigeria unprecedented opportunities to expand exports, attract investment, strengthen industrialisation, and create jobs.
It stressed that these opportunities can only be fully harnessed if Nigeria’s foreign missions are led by ambassadors who are conversant with AfCFTA rules, protocols, trade remedies, non-tariff barrier mechanisms, and regional trade frameworks.
“The success of AfCFTA will not be determined solely by policies signed at the continental level but by how effectively countries deploy their institutions and representatives to implement them,” the statement reads.
NBGN reaffirmed its readiness to continue supporting the federal government through policy advisory, private sector engagement, and evidence-based advocacy, to ensure that Nigeria assumes its rightful leadership role in AfCFTA implementation and Africa’s economic transformation.