Maricel Romero, the Colombian Honorary Consul to Nigeria, has called on young Nigerian entrepreneurs to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement to expand their businesses. She made the appeal on Saturday in Abuja during the Trade Commissioners Summit 2.0, an event organised by GlobalAfri Diplomat and Ajomale-McWord to boost trade and investment in Nigeria's key sectors. The summit brought together foreign envoys, industry leaders, policymakers, and representatives from multilateral institutions across Africa and beyond.
Romero urged young entrepreneurs engaged in international trade to identify unique local products and enhance them with digital value. She emphasized the need to digitalise offerings and enable cross-border payment systems to reach wider markets. "Young Nigerians seeking to invest or trade internationally should identify products and commodities that are unique to their communities and add digital value to them," she said. She also encouraged them to leverage AfCFTA to access broader regional markets.
The event marked the launch of a new initiative called "The Goal for Trade," aimed at strengthening cross-border commerce and investment across Africa. Romero described the summit as a bold and timely platform for connecting Nigeria's trade potential with global partners. She praised the organisers for creating space for regional and international exchange. Participation included Dr Enahoro Okhae, CEO of GIG Mobility, and Akinbulejo Onabolu, Head of Public Segment at MTN Nigeria.
The Colombian Honorary Consul urges Nigerian youth to digitalise local products for AfCFTA trade, yet offered no funding, platform or technical support to make it possible. Young entrepreneurs are expected to act on high-level advice despite lacking access to the digital infrastructure or cross-border payment systems being promoted. The appeal reflects a recurring pattern where foreign envoys spotlight opportunities without addressing the operational barriers Nigerian starters face. Without tangible partnerships or tools, such calls risk becoming speeches without pathways.
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