By Maryanne Awuya
As part of efforts to drive economic diversification and achieve sustainable economic development, the Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating industrial growth, trade expansion and investment mobilisation.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said this on Monday at the opening of the top management retreat for Directors-General, Chief Executive Officers and Directors of agencies under the Ministy in Abuja.
Persecondnews correspondent at the event reports that the two-day retreat was organised to review the implementation of the Nigeria Industrial Policy, assess performance under the ministry’s strategic priorities and strengthen coordination among agencies.
Speaking at the event, Oduwole said Nigeria recorded significant progress in 2025 as a result of stronger alignment between trade, investment and industrial policies.
According to her, total capital importation reached approximately $21 billion within the first 10 months of 2025, while non-oil exports exceeded $6.1 billion.
She added that intra-African trade rose to about N4.82 trillion during the first half of the year, while more than 115,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) accessed grants, loans and trade finance through interventions by the Bank of Industry, NEXIM Bank and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.
The minister also noted that Nigeria produced Africa’s first comprehensive five-year African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) implementation plan.
Oduwole said the ministry has continued to build on those achievements in 2026 through expanded export connectivity, investment facilitation, intellectual property reforms and increased support for exporters and domestic manufacturers.
She disclosed that the government is currently advancing several strategic economic agreements, including a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the United Arab Emirates, an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement with Canada, and trade and investment partnerships with the United Kingdom, the United States, the Republic of Benin and Saudi Arabia.
According to her, the agreements are expected to create new opportunities for Nigerian businesses, attract investments and strengthen the country’s position within regional and global value chains.
The minister identified four priority areas for the ministry in 2026, including expanding access to regional and global markets for Nigerian goods and services, strengthening domestic industrial capacity, optimizing investment opportunities and leveraging data, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure for economic growth.
She said the government would deepen implementation of the AfCFTA, improve export logistics, accelerate the issuance of certificates of origin and strengthen trade corridors to boost exports.
Oduwole further disclosed that Nigeria will host an AfCFTA Week from June 29 to July 2, featuring a regional conference, a Council of Ministers meeting and a Digital Trade Forum aimed at positioning the country as a leader in continental trade integration.
She urged agencies under the ministry to improve coordination and ensure that policies and programmes translate into measurable economic opportunities, job creation and shared prosperity for Nigerians.
“The mandate before us is clear. Our responsibility is to ensure that Nigerian businesses can grow, investors can thrive, industries can compete and exporters can access new markets,” she said.
The minister added that all efforts are geared towards supporting President Bola Tinubu’s goal of building a $1 trillion economy.
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