MFA and Global Shapers Host Strategic Youth Roundtable on AfCFTA and Innovation Ahead of WAES 2025
In a bold move to position young West Africans at the center of regional economic transformation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), in partnership with the Abuja and Lagos Global Shapers Hubs—youth-led initiatives of the World Economic Forum—convened the West Africa Youth Futures Roundtable on Friday, June 13, 2025.
The high-level dialogue, held at the Rotunda Hall of the MFA Headquarters and streamed live across Anglophone and Francophone West Africa, attracted over 100 dynamic youth leaders and innovators from across the sub-region.
Themed “AfCFTA and Youth-Led Innovation: Breaking Market Barriers,” the roundtable served as a strategic build-up to the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES 2025) and focused on harnessing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to drive regional integration, innovation, and inclusive development spearheaded by the youth.
Discussions explored three critical pathways to unlocking economic opportunities for young people:
- Access to capital and scale for youth-led MSMEs
- Cross-border trade via digital platforms
- Building innovation ecosystems for youth employment
Participants examined policy-shaping questions such as:
- What financing innovations can reach youth-led MSMEs beyond urban centers?
- How can digital platforms reduce trade friction under AfCFTA?
- Which models of innovation ecosystems effectively support entrepreneurship and job creation?
Delivering goodwill remarks on behalf of the Ministry, Hon. Simi Fajemirokun, Senior Special Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the Ministry’s dedication to trade diplomacy that empowers youth and drives MSME growth. Similarly, Ambassador Oluremi, Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics, highlighted innovation as a vital instrument for regional competitiveness and job creation.
The event featured insightful contributions from a panel of West African experts ranging from economists and digital strategists to youth advocates and startup founders who shared practical ideas for accelerating youth participation in AfCFTA.
Key takeaways from the roundtable called for:
- Enhanced public-private collaboration
- Policy harmonization to ease cross-border business
- A more inclusive approach that recognizes informal entrepreneurs and rural innovators
Importantly, the forum set the stage for participants to co-develop youth-led trade policy recommendations that will be presented to regional leaders at WAES 2025.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to youth diplomacy, economic integration, and innovation-driven development, positioning young West Africans as critical architects of the region’s economic future.
