Ladi Patrick-Okwoli
Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, has warned that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) risks excluding women and other marginalized groups unless deliberate reforms and inclusive policies are implemented.
Tuggar stated this at the recently concluded 2025 Gender Summit hosted by the Policy Innovation Centre in Abuja, saying 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, especially women and youth.
According to him, “The systems designed to boost continental trade can become barriers if women lack access to finance, financial literacy, and market networks.
He said “AfCFTA must not be a club for the few. It must include women, youth, and marginalized groups who are vital to Africa’s markets.”
Tuggar noted that while AfCFTA and tools like 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%, compared to 59% in Asia and 69% in Europe, Tuggar identified structural barriers 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 prioritizes equity in governance and trade.
Referencing UNESCO’s 2024 data, Tuggar said 7.6 million Nigerian girls remain out of school, mostly in northern regions.
He also noted women’s underrepresentation in leadership, with African women holding 27.3% of parliamentary seats and fewer than 25% of executive roles in finance. In Nigeria, women hold just 4.2% of National Assembly seats.
Citing a Council on Foreign Relations report, Tuggar said Nigeria’s GDP could rise by 23%, 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,” he said.
Tuggar outlined Nigeria’s ongoing efforts, including the Regional Partnership for Democracy (RPD), which supports inclusive governance and youth participation.
He also referenced 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, which set minimum thresholds for women’s representation on boards and in management.
He also highlighted national policies 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.
The minister added that youth inclusion remains a priority, with initiatives like the Technical Aid Corps, Nigeria Youth Investment Fund, Student Loan Act, and the Three Million Technical Talent programme aimed at developing digital skills among young Nigerians.
Tuggar stressed the private sector’s role in driving transformation, urging investments in sectors such as food processing, artisanal trades, and the creative economy areas where women and youth are active.
“We must move beyond aid. Inclusive value chains led by the private sector are key to lasting economic transformation,” he said.
The minister called on 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,” Tuggar said. “A 4.2% 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.
Source: Businessday.ng | Read the Full Story…
