Jumoke Oduwole convened the 18th Meeting of the African Continental Free Trade Area Council of Ministers on Tuesday as the newly appointed Chair of the Council.
Oduwole described the gathering as “a crucial meeting to drive economic transformation across the continent.”
In a statement posted on her official X account, Oduwole highlighted Nigeria’s growing trade footprint on the continent, noting that the country’s exports to African markets now exceed those to any other region.
“With Nigeria’s exports to African markets now surpassing exports to any other region, our focus as Chair will be on deepening this intra-African trade leadership,” she said.
Oduwole added that the Council’s priorities under her leadership will include ensuring regional export readiness programs expand exports, attract investment, and drive inclusive growth.
The AfCFTA Council of Ministers oversees implementation of the continental free trade agreement, which aims to create a single market for goods and services across 54 African countries.
