Nigeria has emerged as the Pan-African trade powerhouse at the 32nd Annual Meetings of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).
The Meetings which held in Abuja on Friday, 27th June 2025, provided a platform for Nigeria to showcase its economic prowess, highlighting the country’s emergence as a regional hub for trade, development finance, and industrial growth.
Speaking during a high-level session of delegates from across Africa and the diaspora the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, underscored Nigeria’s partnership with Afreximbank as a model for effective collaboration between governments and development finance institutions.
The minister said, “We are not just participating in a summit. We are advancing a shared vision for Africa’s prosperity, with Nigeria playing a leading role in its delivery”.
Mr Edun further highlighted that Nigeria has secured over $52 billion in Afreximbank financing, with targeted interventions across energy, infrastructure, healthcare, and SME development, including the Africa Trade Centre in Abuja, the African Medical Centre of Excellence, and the proposed Africa Energy Bank, with $5 billion in capital, to be headquartered in Abuja.
The Minister also pointed to Nigeria’s recent formal adoption of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), calling it a game-changer for intra-African trade and financial independence.
“With PAPSS, Nigerian businesses can settle cross-border transactions in local currencies, reducing foreign exchange pressures and creating a more stable trade environment”, he stated.
He applauded the innovative leadership of Afreximbank President Prof. Benedict Oramah and urged the Nigerian private sector to leverage the full suite of Afreximbank instruments, including FEDA, AQAC, and CANEX, to expand market access and scale impact.
He added, “The enabling institutions are in place. The infrastructure is growing. Now is the moment for Nigeria’s entrepreneurs and investors to go bigger, bolder, and regional”.
The 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings convened top public and private sector leaders to advance dialogue on trade integration, financing solutions, and industrial growth across Africa.
As the African economy continues to evolve, Nigeria’s emergence as a pan-African trade powerhouse positions the country for sustained growth, investment, and prosperity. With strategic partnerships and innovative solutions, Nigeria is poised to play a leading role in shaping the continent’s economic future.
PR: Austin Ineh
Edited by Uduak Akpan
