Abuja: The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), convened the HerAfCFTA Regional Conference, coinciding with the 2026 African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Council of Ministers Meeting. The event brought together African leaders, Ministers of Trade, policymakers, women entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders to discuss advancing women's economic leadership and unlocking Africa's single market potential.
According to African Press Organization, the conference marks a significant milestone in Africa's economic integration journey, celebrating five years since the launch of AfCFTA. With a market surpassing 1.4 billion people and a combined GDP over US$3 trillion, AfCFTA offers an opportunity to enhance intra-African trade, strengthen regional value chains, accelerate industrialization, and promote inclusive economic growth.
The conference emphasized the need to progress beyond policy commitments and focus on practical solutions that strengthen productive capacity, expand market access, mobilize investment, and empower African enterprises, particularly women-led businesses and SMEs, to thrive in regional markets.
Hosted by UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, alongside Honourable Minister Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, the conference served as a platform to strengthen partnerships, showcase practical solutions, and identify actions to accelerate women's participation in intra-African trade.
Nigeria's leadership in this dialogue is noteworthy, given its position as Africa's largest economy and a hub for entrepreneurship and innovation. The country exemplifies how trade, investment, and innovation can drive industrialization, create jobs, and foster sustainable development across the continent.
The conference featured Ministers of Trade from Ghana, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, along with senior government officials, women entrepreneurs, development finance institutions, private sector leaders, investors, and regional organizations. Key Nigerian government representatives included Honourable Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Honourable Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and Honourable Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa.
Discussions focused on strengthening women's participation in regional value chains, expanding access to finance and markets, enhancing export competitiveness, and fostering strategic partnerships that enable women-owned enterprises to scale across Africa.
The event builds on HerAfCFTA, UNDP's flagship initiative launched in 2023 to promote women's economic empowerment through trade, investment, and enterprise development. In Nigeria, this initiative supports women-led businesses by enhancing export readiness, facilitating market access, connecting entrepreneurs with finance and investment opportunities, and creating an inclusive trade ecosystem.
The HerAfCFTA Regional Conference underscores UNDP's commitment to connecting markets, innovation, investment, and partnerships to accelerate Africa's economic transformation. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the conference aims to ensure that AfCFTA's opportunities translate into tangible outcomes, including stronger enterprises, quality jobs, resilient value chains, and inclusive prosperity for women and communities across the continent.