The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Dr. Tayo Aduloju, has advocated a three-pronged strategic measure for African governments to adopt in order to position the economies in the continent for competiveness in the fast-changing global trade.
The economist, during a panel session on Friday at the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) 2025 at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja, which was featured the conversation on scaling exports and unlocking investment across the region, shared bold and practical insights on strengthening Nigeria’s and West Africa’s role in global trade.
At the forum with the theme “Unlocking Trade and Investment Opportunities in the Region” and which had in attendance regional leaders, policymakers, business executives, and development partners, the NESG boss bemoaned the significant infrastructure gaps across the region that continue to hinder seamless intra-African trade.
Specifically, he identified a a threefold strategy for regional competitiveness, namely closing infrastructure gaps, equipping human capital, and harmonising cross-border policies.
Aduloju maintained that these strategies must be pursued by the national governments through deliberate cooperation and coordinated action at both national and regional levels.
During the panel session titled “Global Competition: Scaling Exports via Industrialisation and Port Reforms” Aduloju stressed: “It remains easier to trade outside the continent than within it. We must address infrastructure inefficiencies and align the interpretation of trade protocols across borders to unlock regional commerce and competitiveness.”
According to him, beyond policies, a stronger narrative must be built around Africa’s trade and investment potential.
The renowned economist canvassed the imperative of renewed investments in Special Economic Zones and the development of regional trade corridors, describing both initiatives as critical to industrial growth and export diversification.
In a forward-looking vision, the NESG boss stressed the importance of human capital development, noting that Nigeria’s youthful population can only become a true competitive advantage if supported with the right digital and technical skills.
He advocated: “We must invest in the next generation of innovators, builders, and digital workers.”
While underscoring NESG’s strategic approach, Aduloju identified public-private partnerships (PPPs) as essential to identifying and addressing sector-specific infrastructure and industrial gaps, and urged the regional leaders to explore innovative financing mechanisms, including diaspora engagement, to mobilise capital for transformative growth.