The Institute of Directors (IoD) Nigeria has said that despite the importance and implications of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), many Nigerians, including business interest are not aware of the agreement.
The Chairman, National Organising Committee of the IoD Nigerian annual conference said this on Thursday when he led a delegation of the organisation to the corporate head office of Media Trust Limited.
According to him, the conference would be held on September 26th of September in Abuja and that it is going to be of quality, where government meets business and business meets government.
He said that traditionally, the annual Director’s conference has concentrated on taking on the themes of corporate governance.
“But this year, we decided to change track to see if there is a topical issue that Nigerians will want to learn about making the theme of the conference. Only recently after pressure, arguments on counter arguments, Nigeria signing into the Africa, Free Trade Area agreement, and it is not something Nigerians are really aware of and is going to start very soon.
“Many Nigerians are not aware of the many benefits, opportunities and challenges that are in the agreement and we thought we should make it the theme of this conference to be “African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA): Challenges and Opportunities”.
It is going to be a one day event and we expect the Vice President or his representative to be the Special Guest of Honour, the keynote address would be given by the Minister of Trade and Industries. And there would expert discussions in the morning and afternoon,” Dikko said.
Responding, the Editor-in-Chief and CEO, Media Trust Limited, Mallam Mannir Dan Ali, represented by the Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Mallam Mahmud Jega, said that the AfCFTA has its benefits and challenges especially that it was coming at the time of the United Kingdom’s BREXIT discussions.
