Trading in Africa: How Nigerian exports can win

When Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) visited Nigeria recently, she emphasised in many of her meetings, including with President Muhammadu Buhari, that if Nigeria is to fully take advantage of the opportunities inherent in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Nigerian exports must become value-added.

Her message echoes observations over decades that, Nigeria’s exports are largely in raw form; from crude oil to agricultural goods and others. They are exported raw, earning a tiny fraction of their potentials if they were…