Africa’s economic transformation depends on the women who drive its trade.
Speaking at the HerAfCFTA Regional Conference 2026 in Abuja, Nigeria, the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA, H.E. Wamkele Mene, said that unlocking the full potential of women entrepreneurs — and placing them at the centre of Africa’s trade agenda — is essential to the continent’s economic future.
He highlighted the AfCFTA Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade — the first legally binding instrument of its kind in the world — designed to remove barriers, expand access to finance, open new market opportunities, and support women’s participation in higher-value sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, technology, mining and regional value chains.
Turning the Protocol into tangible results, now depends on coordinated actions by governments, the private sector, development partners and financial institutions working together — to ensure that women entrepreneurs have the finance, skills, infrastructure and networks needed to grow their businesses across Africa.
