In a major push to translate continental trade policies into tangible economic realities, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment of Nigeria and the AfCFTA Secretariat, is to convene the HerAfCFTA Regional Conference today, Monday, June 29, 2026, in Abuja.
The high-level summit brings together trade ministers, women entrepreneurs, policymakers, and financial institutions to dismantle structural barriers and accelerate female-led commercial growth across Africa.
The conference coincides with the high-profile official visit of the UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, to Nigeria. Arriving in Abuja ahead of the regional conference, Eziakonwa expressed strong optimism about the country’s pivotal role in driving the continent’s economic transformation through grassroots innovation and inclusive industrialization.
“Touchdown in Nigeria! The country’s energy, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit never fail to inspire,” said Ahunna Eziakonwa, UNDP Regional Director for Africa. “I am looking forward to engaging with government, entrepreneurs, women, youth, and partners to unlock jobs, investment, and inclusive growth for Nigeria and Africa.”
Testing the Limits of Africa’s Single Market
While the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) stands as one of the most ambitious economic integration projects globally since its adoption in 2018, stakeholders at the summit emphasized that its ultimate success hinges on inclusivity. Experts note that five years into its implementation, the core focus must shift from theoretical participation to equipping female traders with sustainable capacity, robust capital, and competitive market share within the single market framework.
Reiterating Nigeria’s strategic alignment with these goals, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, emphasized that expanding physical and digital market access remains a top priority for economic resilience.
“Africa’s trade landscape is evolving, and expanding real market opportunities must lead the way,” stated Dr. Jumoke Oduwole. “In line with our strategic mandate to foster inclusive economic growth, the Ministry is pleased to host the HerAfCFTA Regional Conference.”
Breaking Barriers via the AfCFTA Protocol
To address the deep-seated structural and financial limitations facing female and youth cross-border merchants, African Union member states previously adopted a dedicated AfCFTA Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade. The HerAfCFTA Initiative serves as the operational vehicle to drive this protocol forward, transforming high-level diplomatic commitments into structural regional support systems.
Welcoming the delegation to the nation’s capital, the UNDP Nigeria Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, described the gathering as a critical turning point for continental industrialization and self-reliance.
“The next few days mark a convergence of leadership around a shared vision for an Africa that trades more with itself, innovates at scale, attracts transformative investment, and accelerates inclusive industrial growth,” noted Elsie Attafuah.
Strategic Objectives and Policy Actions
The single-day summit in Abuja is structurally designed to move beyond policy rhetoric and secure actionable, practical outcomes across key socio-economic pillars:
-
Securing Political Commitment: The High-Level Welcome Session focused on mobilizing regional trade ministers to enforce legal frameworks that protect and support female cross-border traders.
-
Evidence-Based Market Lessons: A dedicated panel of veteran female traders shared first-hand experiences, offering technical insights into overcoming clearing barriers and navigating cross-border logistics under the AfCFTA agreement.
-
Public-Private Fireside Chats: Female ministers of trade engaged directly with private sector executives to co-create solutions for harmonized customs procedures and localized supply chain integration.
-
Institutional Support & Financing Showcase: A joint presentation by the UNDP and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) unveiled new operational toolkits, capacity-building programs, and dedicated funding access points tailored specifically for women-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) targeting regional export markets.
