Nigeria will host the fifth Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in 2027, bringing the continent’s premier trade and investment event to Lagos and pledging to boost intra-African trade.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, affirmed Nigeria’s pride in the development during the signing ceremony for the host agreement on Monday in Lagos.
The IATF, part of the AfCFTA, brings together businesses and investors to explore opportunities in Africa.
The fifth edition of the fair is scheduled to be held from Nov. 5 to Nov. 11, 2027, in Lagos.
Since its inception, IATF has generated over $167 billion in trade deals.
Oduwole said in preparation for the IATF 2027, Nigeria had crossed the five-year mark since the commencement of AfCFTA implementation.
According to her, Nigeria is proud to be the first AfCFTA State Party to complete its five-year implementation review in 2025, an obligation under the agreement.
She noted that Nigeria understands the reforms, investments, and institutional practices needed to fully realise AfCFTA’s goals.
The minister also said the country was focusing on women and youths to ensure the Nigerian market remains inclusive and that no group is left behind.
She said the work ahead of Nigeria and other AfCFTA State Parties was not only expansive but also critical for the continent’s survival and prosperity.
Oduwole assured that Nigeria’s hosting of IATF 2027 would mark a defining moment in accelerating and transforming intra-African trade and investment.
She said Nigeria intended not only to exceed the transaction levels recorded at previous editions of the trade fair but also to deepen economic collaboration across the continent.
“Beyond transactions, we envision IATF 2027 as a marketplace that will aggregate ideas, relationships, capital and skills to boldly confront the challenges that impede the full realisation of our one global African market,” she said.
She added that in preparation for the event, Nigeria in May 2025 launched a dedicated AfCFTA air cargo export corridor with Uganda Airlines to ensure Nigerian goods reach buyers in East and Southern Africa quickly and cost-effectively.
Oduwole said that, as co-champion of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade, Nigeria had convened an innovative mechanism with Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa to pilot solutions for seamless cross-border trade and the mobility of digital services.
“Another Nigeria-led initiative is the Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT), spearheaded by the Nigeria Customs Service, to align customs policies with the ambitions of the AfCFTA.
She said Nigeria would deploy its creativity, commitment, and resilience for the continent’s economic integration at IATF 2027.
The Chairman of the IATF 2027 Advisory Council, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, said bringing the fair to Lagos had historic significance because the city hosted African leaders who signed the Lagos Plan of Action for the Economic Development of Africa from 1980 to 2000.
The plan aimed to promote industrialisation, trade equity, and Africa’s self-sufficiency.
Obasanjo, a former President of Nigeria, lauded the Federal Government, the Lagos State Government, and the private sector for their collective efforts in securing the hosting rights.
He reaffirmed the IATF 2027 Advisory Council’s commitment to collaborating with all stakeholders to ensure a successful fifth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair in Lagos.
He said IATF must elevate standards as Africa pursues developmental goals.
The President of the African Export-Import Bank, Dr George Elombi, described Nigeria as a giant nation with a vibrant spirit and a dedicated minister focused on national economic development.
Elombi projected that the 2027 edition would attract more than 100,000 visitors.
He said intra-African trade was helping to create a strong pan-African single market.
“Our collective duty is to use this platform to grow trade and investment across the continent and boost intra-African trHe stated that Africa must expand value addition, build value chains, create jobs, and improve welfare through intra-continental trade. said.
