MFA and Global Shapers Host Youth Roundtable on AfCFTA and Innovation Ahead of WAES 2025
Oru Leonard
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Abuja and Lagos Global Shapers Hubs, hosted the West Africa Youth Futures Roundtable on June 13, 2025. The event brought together over 100 young leaders and innovators from across West Africa to discuss how the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), can drive regional integration, innovation, and inclusive economic development.
The roundtable focused on harnessing youth-led innovation to break market barriers and drive economic growth in West Africa.
Participants discussed critical areas such as access to capital and scale for MSMEs, cross-border trade and digital platforms, and innovation ecosystems for youth employment.
The roundtable aimed to co-develop youth-led trade policy recommendations for submission to WAES leaders.
During a goodwill message S. A. Foreign Affairs to Minister Tuggar, Honorable Simi Fajemirokun said the Ministry remains committed to trade diplomacy that enables youth participation and MSME growth.
“Innovation is a tool for regional competitiveness and job creation”, he noted.
The roundtable underscores the importance of youth participation in shaping West Africa’s economic future. By engaging young leaders and innovators, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs aims to ensure that AfCFTA implementation is inclusive and beneficial to all, particularly youth and MSMEs. The event is part of the build-up to the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES 2025), which promises to be a landmark moment for the region.
