Mainstreaming of Trained & Certified Youth Entrepreneurs (Export) to African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

The pact connects 1.3 billion people across 55 countries with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) valued at US$3.4 trillion. It has the potential to lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty, but achieving its full potential will depend on putting in place significant policy reforms and trade facilitation measures. As the global economy is in turmoil due to the COVID-19 pandemic, creation of the vast AfCFTA regional market is a major opportunity to help African countries diversify their exports, accelerate growth, and attract foreign direct investment.

AfCFTA aims to create a Digital Skills and E-Commerce platform Driven by Value Addition Services to the 151Million youths which amount to 70% of Nigeria's population at 217million people as at Aug 25th, 2022. AfCFTA is poised to provoking the Emerging Market Potential by organizing Trainings and Capacity Development programmes to produce Master

Trainers of Trainers on key skills in employable and market niche activities. Participants will

be mentored, packaged and certified as skilled entrepreneurs and mainstreamed into Digital Platform for Public Access and E-Skills Market Hub Complex.

Other benefits for youths between the age of 18-35 include but not limited to:

• Linkages to MSME’s funding opportunities (CBN | NYIF | World Bank | BOI | BOA)

• Business Process Outsource Service opportunity with additional income prospects and

mentorship opportunity

• Extension service support and agro-inputs supply chain management

• Delivery of processed or raw food or market driven approach

• Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP) to link farmers with off takers.

• Prospect for continuing education (Post-graduate certifications, professional and skills

capacity development trainings etc)

AfCFTA can also become the bastion of hope for Small Medium Enterprises Development

Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), by equipping the MSME’s with book of states and use of trade

map, facilitate registration/certification of NEPC, NXP, appropriate insurance covers through letter of recommendation.