The Federal Government has stressed the need to bring Nigeria’s foreign policy closer to citizens at the grassroots, saying the country’s international engagements must translate into tangible economic opportunities for Nigerians.
The government said greater awareness was needed to enable Nigerians, particularly businesses in the North-East, to understand and take advantage of opportunities created by Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, who spoke during a sensitization workshop on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) held at the International Conference Centre Hall Saturday in Bauchi, said the initiative was aimed at putting Nigerians at the centre of the country’s foreign policy framework.
According to him, the government is exploring ways of connecting foreign policy with the economic aspirations of citizens by encouraging private-sector participation in agriculture, mining, manufacturing and other areas where Nigeria has comparative advantages.
He said there was still inadequate information among Nigerian businesses about the AfCFTA, including the requirements for companies seeking to access the continental market.
Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye said creating greater awareness of the agreement would enable Nigerian enterprises to expand beyond the domestic market, increase exports and contribute to job creation.
He also urged businesses and stakeholders in the North-East to position themselves to benefit from the emerging opportunities, particularly through industrialisation and value addition.
He said Nigeria could not achieve sustainable economic and social development without deepening its participation in globalisation and international trade.
The engagement, he added, was therefore designed to improve public understanding of foreign policy and its potential contribution to economic prosperity.
