NIGERIA EMERGES AS PAN-AFRICAN TRADE POWERHOUSE AS EDUN CHARTS PATH TO ECONOMIC DOMINANCE AT AFREXIMBANK MEETINGS

NIGERIA EMERGES AS PAN-AFRICAN TRADE POWERHOUSE AS EDUN CHARTS PATH TO ECONOMIC DOMINANCE AT AFREXIMBANK MEETINGS

The 32nd Annual Meetings of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) provided a platform for Nigeria to showcase its economic prowess, with the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, highlighting the country’s emergence as a regional hub for trade, development finance, and industrial growth.

Speaking during a high-level session of delegates from across Africa and the diaspora at the Annual Meetings in Abuja on Friday, the Minister underscored Nigeria’s partnership with Afreximbank as a model for effective collaboration between governments and development finance institutions. *We are not just participating in a summit. We are advancing a shared vision for Africa’s prosperity, with Nigeria playing a leading role in its delivery,* Edun said.

He highlighted further that Nigeria has secured over $52 billion in Afreximbank financing, with targeted interventions across energy, infrastructure, healthcare, and SME development, including the Africa Trade Centre in Abuja, the African Medical Centre of Excellence, and the proposed Africa Energy Bank, with $5 billion in capital, to be headquartered in Abuja.

The Minister also pointed to Nigeria’s recent formal adoption of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), calling it a game-changer for intra-African trade and financial independence. *With PAPSS, Nigerian businesses can settle cross-border transactions in local currencies, reducing foreign exchange pressures and creating a more stable trade environment,* he stated.

HM Edun applauded the innovative leadership of Afreximbank President Prof. Benedict Oramah and urged the Nigerian private sector to leverage the full suite of Afreximbank instruments, including FEDA, AQAC, and CANEX, to expand market access and scale impact. *The enabling institutions are in place. The infrastructure is growing. Now is the moment for Nigeria’s entrepreneurs and investors to go bigger, bolder, and regional,* he added.

The 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings convened top public and private sector leaders to advance dialogue on trade integration, financing solutions, and industrial growth across Africa.

As the African economy continues to evolve, Nigeria’s emergence as a pan-African trade powerhouse positions the country for sustained growth, investment, and prosperity. With strategic partnerships and innovative solutions, Nigeria is poised to play a leading role in shaping the continent’s economic future.