Oyo AfCFTA launch makes history as Nigeria’s first sub-national rollout, aiming to boost trade, attract investment, and lead economic integration in Africa

Oyo AfCFTA Launch has officially positioned the South-Western state as the first in Nigeria to roll out a sub-national implementation strategy of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)—a move widely seen as a transformative leap for local economies engaging in continental trade.

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The announcement was made on Thursday by Neo Theodore-Tlhaselo, Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on International Trade and AfCFTA, during a media briefing at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan.

According to Theodore-Tlhaselo, the formal launch, scheduled for Friday, will host dignitaries including AfCFTA Secretary General Wamkele Mene, representatives from the African Union, Nigeria’s Federal Government, and key trade and policy stakeholders across the continent.

She described the Oyo AfCFTA Launch as a historic milestone that aligns the state with Africa’s boldest economic initiative to date.

“By this launch, Oyo becomes the first sub-national entity in Nigeria to integrate the AfCFTA framework into its economic strategy, unlocking opportunities for trade, investment, and industrial growth,” she said.

The AfCFTA, signed by Nigeria in 2019 and operational since 2021, seeks to unify 54 African countries into a single market of over 1.4 billion people with a combined GDP of more than $3.4 trillion. However, implementation at the national and sub-national levels has been slow, making Oyo’s initiative a trailblazing model for others.

The adviser praised Governor Makinde’s foresight, saying the administration has prioritized economic diversification and trade expansion, leveraging Oyo’s population of over eight million, robust infrastructure, and active private sector.

“The Sub-National AfCFTA Programme is about making Oyo a regional trade hub, not just within Nigeria but across Africa. The state has the fundamentals—location, manpower, leadership, and investment appeal,” she added.

Stakeholders see this step as a blueprint for other Nigerian states, many of which are still in the early stages of understanding how to localize AfCFTA’s framework.

Theodore-Tlhaselo reiterated that Oyo’s success will depend on continued cooperation between government, business, and regional partners.

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As Nigeria looks to boost intra-African trade, Oyo’s AfCFTA Launch may be the turning point that accelerates broader domestic engagement with the pact—and positions the state as a first mover in Africa’s evolving economic landscape.