The USA–Israel–Iran war is not far from Africa. Its effects can reach our homes, markets, farms, and businesses faster than many people think.
When conflict disrupts global oil, gas, shipping, and supply chains, African economies feel the pressure almost immediately. Fuel prices rise. Transport costs increase. Food becomes more expensive. Small businesses struggle. Families are forced to pay more for basic needs.
For me, this is a serious wake-up call.
As the Southwest Nigeria Regional Coordinator of the AfCFTA Youth Network, an entrepreneur, Patient Safety Consultant, and Managing Director of Olabanji & Co Borderless Foods, I see one clear lesson: Africa can no longer afford to delay the full implementation of AfCFTA.
AfCFTA is more than a trade agreement. It is a strategic tool for enhancing economic resilience, promoting regional growth, and fostering shared prosperity. It offers Africa the opportunity to strengthen intra-African trade, reduce unnecessary dependence on external markets, build regional value chains, and support local production.
This is the time for Africa to move:
from dependence to productivity,
from fragmentation to integration,
from raw exports to value addition,
from policy promises to practical implementation.
We must build systems that protect African economies from external shocks. We must create stronger opportunities for youth, women, farmers, MSMEs, manufacturers, and cross-border businesses. We must invest in infrastructure, trade facilitation, industrial capacity, and policy execution.
This is my call to government, development partners, NGOs, the private sector, and investors: let us work together to make AfCFTA real and impactful for everyday Africans.
Africa should not continue to suffer deeply from global crises it did not create.
This is the time to trade more with ourselves, build more with ourselves, and grow more with ourselves.
AfCFTA must move from promise to practice.
#AfCFTA #AfricaRising #IntraAfricanTrade #YouthInTrade #EconomicTransformation #FoodSystems #BorderlessFoods #TradeForDevelopment #Nigeria #Africa
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