Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, has urged Nigerian entrepreneurs and startups to take advantage of emerging opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as discussions continue at the 2026 Biashara Africa summit.

Biashara Africa 2026, regarded as one of the continent’s leading trade and investment platforms, brought together policymakers, business leaders, financial institutions and trade facilitators to accelerate the implementation of the AfCFTA agreement and deepen intra-African trade.

Speaking in her capacity as the Incoming Chair of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers, Dr. Oduwole challenged African leaders and policymakers to move beyond policy commitments and address the practical barriers hindering trade and investment across the continent.

She also commended Togolese President, Faure Gnassingbé, and the Government of Togo for what she described as decisive actions advancing the vision of the AfCFTA and strengthening Africa’s ambition of building an integrated market of more than 1.4 billion people.

As part of efforts to drive implementation of the continental trade pact, the minister announced the launch of the AfCFTA Startup Acceleration Programme 2026, a flagship initiative under the AfCFTA–Korea Africa Foundation partnership.

According to her, the programme is designed to support 30 high-potential African startups seeking to expand beyond the continent and access international markets, particularly South Korea.

Dr. Oduwole explained that the initiative presents significant opportunities for Nigerian startups operating in sectors such as fintech, e-commerce, logistics, agritech, manufacturing and digital platforms to strengthen their operations, scale internationally and position themselves for cross-border growth.

“The future of the AfCFTA will not be built by policy alone. It will be driven by enterprises, innovators, manufacturers, digital platforms and entrepreneurs who are ready to trade,” she said.

The minister, who also serves as Co-Champion of Digital Trade under the AfCFTA, encouraged eligible Nigerian startups to apply for the programme through SME.Support@au-afcfta.org before the application deadline of May 24, 2026.

She further noted that Africa’s economic integration drive had recorded another major milestone with the announcement by the Government of Togo removing visa requirements for African passport holders and investors travelling to the country for short stays.

According to her, the policy signals that Africa is gradually transitioning from regional aspirations to concrete action aimed at promoting trade, investment and movement across borders.

The ancient city of Kano came alive with renewed conversations on the future of education as the All Northern Schools Conference concluded after three days of intensive engagement, strategic discussions and stakeholder collaboration aimed at repositioning schools across Northern Nigeria for innovation, sustainability and impact.

The conference, described by participants as one of the most significant education gatherings in the region in recent years, attracted school owners, educators, policymakers, development partners, innovators, investors and other stakeholders from across Northern Nigeria and beyond.

Organisers said the summit was conceived as a bold intervention to drive transformational change in the education sector and create stronger networks among stakeholders committed to improving learning outcomes in the region.

Throughout the three-day event, speakers and facilitators urged participants to move beyond complaints about the challenges facing education and embrace practical reforms capable of delivering measurable results. Discussions focused on strengthening teacher quality, adopting technology-driven learning models, improving school governance, ensuring sustainability and placing learners at the centre of education reforms.

Participants engaged in sessions covering leadership, safeguarding, institutional culture, school growth, innovation, teacher development, learner transformation and collaboration among schools and government institutions.

A recurring message during the conference was the need for courageous leadership and deliberate action to transform education in Northern Nigeria. Speakers stressed that sustainable progress in the sector would require committed school owners, visionary educators, supportive governments and strategic partnerships capable of addressing long-standing systemic challenges.

The conference also provided a platform for collaboration between public and private education stakeholders, enabling school leaders from different states to exchange ideas, share experiences and explore practical solutions to common challenges facing schools in the region.

Several participants noted that the gathering highlighted the benefits of collaboration among educators, rather than operating in isolation, adding that the conference opened new opportunities for partnerships and institutional growth.

One of the major highlights of the summit was the array of guest speakers and resource persons who delivered presentations during the event. Education experts, transformational leaders and industry professionals shared practical insights and experiences aimed at equipping participants with strategies for building stronger and more sustainable institutions.

Speakers challenged school administrators to rethink the future of learning by creating safer, smarter and more resilient schools, while also encouraging teachers to go beyond classroom instruction and become active agents of learner transformation.

Beyond the academic sessions, delegates participated in networking activities that fostered relationship-building and collaboration among institutions. The organisers noted that the conference also showcased the cultural heritage and hospitality of Kano, reinforcing the city’s reputation as a major centre of commerce, learning and influence in Northern Nigeria.

The event ended with a colourful Gala Night featuring cultural displays, entertainment, awards and recognition for participants and contributors. The evening provided an opportunity for attendees to celebrate shared achievements while strengthening relationships built during the conference.

Speaking at the close of the event, the organisers expressed appreciation to participants, partners, speakers, volunteers and exhibitors for contributing to the success of the conference. They described the gathering as the beginning of a broader movement aimed at creating a stronger network of education leaders committed to transforming schools across Northern Nigeria.

According to the organisers, the conference demonstrated that Northern Nigeria possesses the leadership capacity, institutional readiness and human resources needed to reimagine and rebuild the future of education in the region.

They urged participants to translate the discussions and resolutions from the conference into concrete actions in classrooms, schools, ministries and institutions across the region.

The organisers added that the success of the conference marked a major milestone in ongoing efforts to reposition Northern schools for greater relevance, resilience and improved educational outcomes, while expressing optimism that the momentum generated in Kano would continue to inspire reforms and innovation across the education sector.