The Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), His Excellency Wamkele Mene, and the Acting Governor of Oyo State, Barr. Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal, have affirmed that the AfCFTA will unlock prosperity, create employment, and significantly boost the economy of Oyo State.
Both leaders made the declaration on Friday at the official launch of the Oyo State Sub-national Implementation Strategy for the AfCFTA, held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
Mene commended Oyo State for becoming the first sub-national entity in Africa to formally adopt an AfCFTA domestic implementation strategy. He noted that by leveraging the opportunities offered by AfCFTA, the state was positioning itself as a hub of resilience, competitiveness, job creation, and prosperity.
He explained that the strategy would tackle youth unemployment, support farmers, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and players in the informal sector, while also attracting investment into the state. Mene described the initiative as “a bold step and a testament to Governor Makinde’s visionary leadership,” pledging AfCFTA Secretariat’s support in ensuring successful implementation.
Speaking on behalf of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde, Acting Governor Lawal said the strategy was a demonstration of the state’s readiness to align with external trade policies and reap the benefits of continental integration.
He explained that the strategy would:
Improve the export readiness of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through training, packaging, and certification support.
Signal to investors that Oyo State is prepared and open for business.
Identify priority sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and the creative industry for targeted investment.
Facilitate job creation, reduce poverty, and raise living standards across the state.
Lawal stressed that the initiative was not a duplication of federal responsibilities but rather “para-diplomacy” — preparing state systems, standards, and infrastructure to maximize benefits when federal trade provisions take effect.
> “Today, Oyo State becomes the first of 591 sub-national entities across Africa to create an AfCFTA Implementation Strategy. We are acting now because the sooner you prepare, the sooner you gain. This strategy will ensure that Oyo State does not miss out on the immense opportunities AfCFTA provides,” he said.
Earlier, Special Adviser to the Governor on International Trade and AfCFTA, Ms. Neo Theodore Tlhaselo, described the launch as a call to action and a signal that Oyo State is open for business, both locally and across Africa. She outlined the five pillars of the strategy, which include productive capacity and value chain development; trade facilitation and infrastructure; market access and export readiness; finance and investment mobilisation; and institutional framework with monitoring and evaluation.
The event drew top African diplomats, dignitaries, and development partners, including representatives of the AfCFTA Secretariat, African Development Bank, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, and traditional rulers, among others.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Rwandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Christophe Bazivamo, and Sierra Leone’s Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Major-General Dauda Fred Alpha, both of whom praised Governor Makinde’s foresight and pledged support for the state’s economic vision.
