The Director General of NITDA Kashifu Inuwa CCIE represented by Director of the Digital Economy Development, Engr. Salisu Kaka, presenting a cash prize of N10million to Get AI under the Regulatory Sandbox category, during the closing ceremony of the Nigeria AfCFTA Hackathon 2025 during the Science of Trade Conference in Lagos.
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, has affirmed that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and digital payment systems will be pivotal in shaping the future of trade and investment across Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking through Engr. Salisu Kaka, Director of Digital Economy Development at NITDA, during the Nigeria AfCFTA Hackathon 2025 at the Science of Trade Conference in Lagos, Inuwa emphasized the importance of technology in fostering inclusive, efficient, and sustainable economic growth across the continent.
“Technology has made trade seamless,” Inuwa stated. “From ordering goods online to digital payment and delivery, innovation has eliminated traditional trade barriers and transformed the way we do business.”
He highlighted the significance of the recently adopted AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol, describing it as a game-changer that would harmonize digital trade regulations, reduce bottlenecks, and unlock access to new markets for businesses of all sizes across Africa’s 1.4 billion-strong population and over $3 trillion GDP.
Citing Nigeria’s digital strides, Inuwa pointed to the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) use of technology to reform its operations. The implementation of the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS II) led to a 238% increase in revenue between 2017 and 2023, while the newly launched Unified Customs Management System generated over ₦31 billion within months of its deployment.
“These reforms are proof that digital tools can transform even the most complex government systems. What we now need is to scale such innovations across all sectors of trade,” he added.
The Director General Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, represented by Director of the Digital Economy Development, Engr. Salisu Kaka in a group photograph with Startups at the closing ceremony of the Nigeria AfCFTA Hackathon 2025 during the Science of Trade Conference in Lagos.
The Nigeria AfCFTA Hackathon is addressing five key thematic areas: Youth and MSME Inclusion, E-Commerce Adoption, E-Commerce Policy and Trust, Digital Payments, and the E-Commerce Regulatory Sandbox. Inuwa described the event as a platform to build innovative, scalable solutions that will power intra-African commerce and empower the continent’s entrepreneurs.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Olusegun Awolowo, National Coordinator of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office — represented by Olusegun Olutayo, a Senior Trade Policy Expert — underscored the need for collective effort in driving Africa’s digital economy. He stressed that achieving the AfCFTA vision requires practical solutions and inclusive policies that support growth and innovation.
“This Hackathon is more than an event—it’s a catalyst for the ideas that will define Africa’s digital trade future,” Awolowo said.
As stakeholders brainstorm on technology-driven solutions, both NITDA and the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office reiterated their commitment to building a robust digital trade ecosystem that positions Nigeria—and Africa—as leaders in global digital commerce.
