West Africa is emerging as an investment-ready, industrially ambitious, and increasingly unified strategic partner, agree stakeholders in Nigeria’s manufacturing, trade and financial sectors.
As global trade enters an era of unpredictability due to rising tensions between the biggest economies of the world, notably, the ongoing tariff standoff between the United States and China, the ripple effects are being felt across supply chains, sourcing strategies, and economic alliances.
The sporadic imposition of trade tariffs as high as 145 percent on partners by the U.S. is forcing global manufacturers and buyers to reassess their sourcing strategies and trade partnerships.
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But within this disruption lies a rare opportunity, stakeholders say. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a regional integration plan to create a unified $3.4 trillion market for intra-African lies at the epicentre of this goal and is gaining traction.
In Ghana, there is a projected boost in regional exports by six percentage points. Senegal’s growing textile industry and Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa processing and trade also present optimism. Recently, Nigeria, endorsed the AfCFTA Digital Trade Champion by the AU, signed an agreement to waive 90 percent tariffs on goods imported from within Africa.
The building blocks of Africa’s next industrial chapter are taking shape, stakeholders say.
“The ongoing global trade tensions present a critical opportunity for Africa to reset its trade strategy, prioritising intra-continental partnerships and diversifying its international trade mix,” said Wemimo Oyelana, portfolio and country director, dmg Nigeria.
Oyelana cited the gathering of government leaders, industry executives, investors, and development institutions at the West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing and Trade (West Africa IMT) Summit in Lagos later this year as a critical platform to reset Africa’s trade strategy.
The summit themed ‘Accelerating West Africa’s Sustainable Industrial Revolution for Economic Prosperity’ is scheduled to hold 21 -23 October 2025 at the Landmark Centre, Lagos.
Wale Edun, Nigeria’s minister of finance, acknowledged the seriousness of escalating tariff conflicts, but said that it presents an opportunity for Nigeria to reposition itself as a competitive trade and investment destination
Speaking at the 2025 IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C., Edun noted that amid a challenging global environment marked by high debt, rising interest rates, and geopolitical tensions, Nigeria targets a 7 percent economic growth.
“We are focused on creating sustainable jobs for young Nigerians, supported by investment in critical infrastructure such as digital connectivity, access to data, and fibre optic networks,” Edun stated.
“By crowding in the private sector and driving domestic revenue mobilisation, we are stabilising the economy and creating an environment where businesses can thrive.”
Regional financiers are also pulling various levers to spur regional supply. Last week, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) launched a $3 billion financing program called the Revolving Intra-African Oil Trade Financing Programme to support the purchase of refined petroleum products by buyers in Africa.
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Benedict Oramah, president of Afreximbank, said the investment will enhance marine cargo insurance and the downstream petroleum value chain, encouraging investments in shipping and marine logistics for intra- and extra-African trade of crude oil and refined products.
At West Africa IMT, stakeholders will examine how the impact of global supply chain disruptions, protectionist trade measures, and realignments in economic alliances are accelerating the case for Africa’s industrial advancement and trade diversification.
“Africa’s abundant natural resources, rapidly growing young population and expansive land mass hold immense potential to produce the next generation of industrial powerhouses,” it wrote on its website.
“Recognising this opportunity, heads of state across the region are prioritising industrialisation as a strategic pathway to drive rapid economic development and growth.”
