…Minister warns of exclusion under AfCFTA
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has warned that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) risks excluding women and other marginalised groups unless deliberate reforms and inclusive policies are implemented.
Speaking at the 2025 Gender Summit hosted by the Policy Innovation Centre in Abuja, Tuggar said Africa’s projected population of 2.5 billion and combined GDP of $2.8 trillion can only lead to sustainable growth if economic opportunities are accessible to all, particularly women and young people.
According to him, “The systems designed to boost continental trade can become barriers if women lack access to finance, financial literacy, and market networks. AfCFTA must not be a club for the few. It must include women, youth, and marginalised groups who are vital to Africa’s markets.”
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Structural barriers to growth
Tuggar noted that while AfCFTA and tools such as the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) offer opportunities for trade and integration, they may deepen inequality without targeted measures to ensure inclusivity.
Highlighting Africa’s intra-continental trade at 18 percent, compared with 59 percent in Asia and 69 percent in Europe, he identified structural barriers as a key challenge to economic growth.
He said Nigeria, under President Bola Tinubu’s 4-D Diplomacy Agenda — Development, Demography, Diaspora, and Democracy — is promoting investment-led development that prioritises equity in governance and trade.
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Education and representation gaps
Referencing UNESCO’s 2024 data, Tuggar pointed out that 7.6 million Nigerian girls remain out of school, most of them in northern regions.
He also noted women’s underrepresentation in leadership across Africa, with women holding 27.3 percent of parliamentary seats and fewer than 25 percent of executive roles in finance. In Nigeria, women hold just 4.2 percent of National Assembly seats.
Citing a Council on Foreign Relations report, he said Nigeria’s GDP could rise by 23 percent, or about $229 billion, if women participated equally in the economy.
“This data sends a clear message: growth without inclusion is fragile, and prosperity without equity is unsustainable,” Tuggar said.
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Ongoing initiatives
The minister highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing efforts, including the Regional Partnership for Democracy (RPD), which supports inclusive governance and youth participation.
He referenced commitments made at the West Africa Economic Summit, where leaders pledged to address barriers to women’s participation in finance, trade, and regional integration.
Acknowledging progress in women’s leadership in Nigeria’s banking sector, Tuggar said more reforms are needed, including implementing the Central Bank’s 2012 Sustainable Banking Principles. The policy sets minimum thresholds for women’s representation on boards and in management.
He also mentioned national frameworks such as the National Gender Policy (2021–2026), the Women’s Economic Empowerment Action Plan (2023–2028), and INEC’s Gender Policy (2021–2025), which embed gender equity into governance and economic planning.
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Youth inclusion and private sector role
Tuggar stressed that youth inclusion remains a priority. He cited initiatives such as the Technical Aid Corps, the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund, the Student Loan Act, and the Three Million Technical Talent programme, which aim to expand digital skills among young Nigerians.
He also emphasised the role of the private sector in driving transformation, calling for investment in areas such as food processing, artisanal trades, and the creative economy, where women and young people are most active.
“We must move beyond aid. Inclusive value chains led by the private sector are key to lasting economic transformation,” he said.
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Call for continental action
The minister urged African leaders to support the Gender and Inclusion Framework for Economic Diplomacy (GIF-ED) and adopt the Purple Book of Action Plans 2025, which promote gender equity and inclusion in economic policies.
“Equity is not optional. Inclusion is not charity. They are the foundations of a stable and prosperous Africa,” he said. “A 4.2 percent share of parliamentary seats for women is unacceptable. We must work to increase women’s political and economic participation.”
Tuggar reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to advancing inclusive economic diplomacy and ensuring AfCFTA benefits all Africans, regardless of gender or background.
