The African Business Roundtable (ABR), in collaboration with the NEPAD Business Group Nigeria (NBGN), successfully hosted a Business Forum on Operationalizing the AfCFTA, on the sidelines of the Africa Export – Import Bank (Afreximbank) Annual Meetings 2025 in Abuja, Nigeria. The Forum brought together high-level delegates from across the continent, including public and private sector leaders, policymakers, regional institutions, academia, and trade experts, to deliberate on practical approaches to unlocking the full potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The event formally opened with a compelling welcome address by Bashorun J.K. Randle, President of the NEPAD Business Group Nigeria. He emphasized the urgent need for African nations to build internal capacities in order to raise intra-African trade to 6.6% between 2025 and 2027. He underscored the role of infrastructure, workforce development, and industrial growth, while calling for visionary leadership that confronts economic bottlenecks and champions trade-enabling reforms.
The Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Nigeria, represented by her Senior Special Advisor, Ms. Patience Okala addressed the Forum in a keynote intervention. She outlined Nigeria’s strategic alignment with AfCFTA goals through a series of digital trade initiatives, including the establishment of a new East–West air cargo corridor and the integration of AfCFTA protocols into national development planning. Emphasizing the need to move from conversation to tangible action, she remarked, “A lot is being said, but not enough is being heard.” Her statement reinforced the Ministry’s active role in mainstreaming AfCFTA across sectors, and the urgency of building awareness and institutional capacity to maximize its benefits.
In her goodwill message, Dr. Amany Asfour, President of the Africa Business Council, reflected on Africa’s minimal 3% contribution to global trade and stressed the imperative for local value addition, industrialization, and energy access. She highlighted the necessity of trading raw materials within Africa and expanding markets for domestically owned enterprises.
Dr. Gainmore Zanamwe, Director of Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion at Afreximbank, echoed the importance of intra-African trade and announced a $1 billion adjustment fund and a $2 billion disbursement towards agricultural self-sufficiency, encouraging African stakeholders to act decisively in seizing these opportunities.
Dr. Waheed Olagunju, former Acting Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, delivered the Executive Address. He challenged persistent stereotypes about Africa and championed a culture of domestic resource mobilization, savings, and investment. According to him, the more Africa embraces self-reliance, the less vulnerable it becomes to undue external influence.
His remarks were followed by an address delivered on behalf of Mr. Samuel Dossou-Aworet by Mr. Goodie Ibru, Executive Vice President of the African Business Roundtable (West Africa), reaffirming ABR’s dedication to trade facilitation, investment promotion, and advocacy for conducive business environments.
Additional institutional remarks came from Mr. Louis Odom, Executive Director of Zenith Bank, who reaffirmed the bank’s support for regional integration and SME empowerment through initiatives such as the SME Grow My Business program.
A special moment in the programme was the unveiling of the African Business Roundtable (ABR) 30th Anniversary Commemorative Book. The review was conducted by Mr. Samuel Ayodele, Executive Secretary & Head of Operations, ABR, who described the book as a tapestry of ABR’s vision, impact, and evolution. The publication celebrates foundational values, historical milestones, present initiatives, future strategies aligned with AfCFTA, and the many leaders who have shaped the Roundtable’s journey. The book was officially launched by key dignitaries, including Mr. Goodie Ibru, Bashorun J.K. Randle, Ms. Patience Okala, Dr. Amany Asfour, Dr. Gainmore Zanamwe, Dr. Waheed Olagunju, Chief Superintendent Omoniyi Mojeed Olanrewaju, among others.
The first panel session, titled Perspectives from Leading African Development Institutions, focused on institutional frameworks, capacity building, and external economic threats. Dr. Gainmore Zanamwe led discussions, providing insights on the non-infrastructural logistical challenges in African trade, such as volume aggregation. Dr. Waheed Olagunju stressed the importance of quality assurance and appropriate pricing models. Professor Kenneth Amechi Ife emphasized the need for Africa to reduce import dependence by boosting local production, discouraging raw material exports, promoting intra-African trade, and building a self-reliant, financially independent economy.Dr. Ken Ukaoha advocated for phased implementation of AfCFTA protocols and practical, step-by-step approaches to trade promotion. Mallam Idris Danlami Mohammad emphasized that consistent and reliable power remains a critical foundation for any trade success. Mr. Olabode Sowunmi, CEO of Cabtree Ltd, moderated the session.
The second panel, titled Perspectives from the Private Sector, examined how the private sector can enhance its competitiveness and build resilience against economic disruptions. The Session Lead Speaker, Mr. Louis Odom, Executive Director, Zenith Bank Plc, kickstarted discussions, emphasizing the critical role of SMEs in driving exports, drawing from global benchmarks. He highlighted Zenith Bank’s initiatives like the Z-Woman programme and the Zero to Hero import-export platform. Dr. Amany Asfour called for sector-specific marketing and differentiated approaches to SME development. Dr. Joshua Zira presented Sterling Bank’s agricultural financing models, while Mr. Gerald Kamugisha of CRDB Bank, Tanzania, shared experiences in facilitating regional trade finance. The session was moderated by Mr. Pedro Besugo, Head of Business Development at Invest Africa.
The third panel session focused on Perspectives from the Public Sector and Regulators of Economic Activities, with emphasis on policy harmonization, procedural streamlining, and capacity building. Mr. Kolawole Sofola, Director of Trade at the ECOWAS Commission, outlined efforts to foster intra-regional trade through the ECOWAS Trade Harmonization Scheme and digital customs systems. He also mentioned the establishment of a Regional Non-Tariff Barriers Monitoring Mechanism to enable real-time resolution of cross-border trade issues. Chief Superintendent Omoniyi Mojeed Olanrewaju from the Nigeria Customs Service, highlighted the evolving role of customs authorities in supporting the AfCFTA. He announced that Nigeria has deployed trained AfCFTA officers to Kenya and recently launched the SIGMA trade tracking platform to enhance transparency in goods movement. The session was moderated by Ms. Heather Ronke Akanni, Coordinator of ABR France.
A special presentation on the Pan Africa Private Sector Trade and Investment Committee (PAFTRAC) was delivered by Mr. Patrick Utomi II, Manager of AU/AfCFTA Relations and Trade Policy at Afreximbank. He traced the origins and evolution of PAFTRAC, underscoring its role in championing trade policy and capacity-building. He referenced key initiatives such as the ABR Investment Masterclass and the Innovest Afrika Investment Accelerator Programme, ITC’s “How to Export” training programme, the PAFTRAC Annual Trade Policy Seminar, and the ABC CAMRED Conference on Minerals, all aimed at equipping African businesses for global competitiveness.
Throughout the Forum, recurring themes emerged across all sessions. These included the need for stronger policy harmonization, the importance of public-private partnerships, investment in logistics and energy infrastructure, increased access to trade finance for SMEs, and the critical role of media in reshaping Africa’s global narrative.
In concluding the Forum, participants put forward several key recommendations. These included the development of domestic production capacity, investments in digital and transport infrastructure, capital market strengthening, the creation of practical trade facilitation tools, and active participation in upcoming trade events such as the 2025 Intra-African Trade Fair in Algeria. The forum ended on a strong note of commitment to the AfCFTA vision, underscoring the importance of visionary leadership, collaboration, and regional solidarity in building a resilient and self-sustaining African economy.
Following the Forum, a delegation of the African Business Roundtable (ABR) and the NEPAD Business Group Nigeria – NBGN, led by Mr. Goodie Ibru and Bashorun J.K. Randle respectively, paid a courtesy visit to the Grand Patron and President Emeritus of the African Business Roundtable, Alhaji Dr. Bamanga Tukur, who was also the Founding Chairman, NBGN. The delegation expressed deep appreciation for his unwavering leadership, vision and foundational role in advancing Africa’s private sector development agenda. The visit also served to brief him on the outcomes of the Business Forum and reaffirm his legacy as a central pillar in the Roundtable’s continuing mission to unlock Africa’s trade and investment potential.
The African Business Roundtable and the NEPAD Business Group Nigeria extend their heartfelt gratitude to all dignitaries, panelists, moderators, and attendees whose participation made the Forum a resounding success.