The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Kwara State Coordinator, Mr. Olu Ikulajolu, has called on stakeholders in agriculture, business, trade and other sectors to maximise the opportunities provided by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to expand markets and promote economic growth.
Ikulajolu made the call while welcoming stakeholders to an AfCFTA event held at Emirates Global Hotel and Suites, Ilorin, Kwara State, on Tuesday, September 29th, 2026 with the theme Trading under AfCFTA: Positioning SME exporters for the Intra-African trade.
The event attracted representatives of government institutions, farmers’ associations, business organisations, regulatory agencies and other stakeholders interested in strengthening trade and economic activities across the African continent.
Welcoming participants, Ikulajolu acknowledged representatives of key institutions, including the Kwara State Ministry of Finance and Supply, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kwara State Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KWACCIMA), Nigerian Association of Women Entrepreneurs (NAWE), Nigeria Association of Small Scale Industrialist (NASSI), National Association of Small and Medium Enterprise (NASME) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
The NEPC Kwara State coordinator Mr Olu Ikulajolu acknowledged the presence of the Acting Director-General of KWACCIMA, Alhaji Maigida, and other stakeholders who attended the programme.
Describing the gathering as an important platform for stakeholders to understand and take advantage of AfCFTA, Ikulajolu said, “It is my honour to welcome you all to this important workshop on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
He explained that AfCFTA is a continental trade agreement designed to strengthen trade and economic integration among African countries.
“As you know, AfCFTA is a continental trade agreement. Out of the 55 countries that make up the continent of Africa, 54 had signed, and of course, the implementation started in 2019,” he stated.
According to him, the agreement provides access to a continental market of more than 1.4 billion people, creating opportunities for farmers, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, exporters and other businesses to expand beyond their domestic markets.
Ikulajolu described AfCFTA as one of the world’s largest trade agreements because of the number of countries and people covered by the arrangement.
He said, “AfCFTA is the biggest single trade agreement all over the world because it comprises 54 countries.”
The NEPC Kwara Coordinator further highlighted the strategic importance of Kwara State, particularly its proximity to Nigeria’s border with a neighbouring African country.
He noted that the state’s geographical position could be leveraged to facilitate cross-border trade and enable businesses and agricultural producers in Kwara to benefit from the opportunities presented by AfCFTA.
“Particularly, Kwara State is sharing border with a neighbouring African country, so that alone is important,” he said.
Ikulajolu urged stakeholders to deepen their understanding of AfCFTA and position their businesses and products to meet the requirements of regional and continental markets.
The event provided an avenue for stakeholders to discuss the implementation of AfCFTA and explore ways of strengthening collaboration among government agencies, farmers, exporters, business associations and other players in the economic sector.
The programme further highlighted the importance of supporting local producers and businesses to become more competitive and take advantage of the growing African market.
