Vice President Kashim Shettima joined global leaders at the 2025 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, to advocate for the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking at the “Forum Friends of AfCFTA” event, Shettima reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to digital transformation and economic integration across the African continent.
“By 2050, Nigeria’s population will surpass that of the United States, becoming the third most populous nation on earth at 440 million people,” Vice President Kashim Shettima stated. He also said Nigeria currently has 220 million telecom subscribers and 163 million internet users.
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The forum focused on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with Shettima declaring, “The African Continental Free Trade Area is not only an economic arrangement but a bold statement of our shared destiny.”
World Economic Forum President Børge Brende echoed the optimistic outlook. “If the Secretary General of the AfCFTA is given all the support he deserves, we can boost intra-African trade by a staggering 50%,” he said. Brende also noted that “$29 trillion represents one-third of the global GDP” and highlighted Africa’s demographic potential: “The challenge now is creating new jobs for the youth population.”
Participants referenced a Korn Ferry study projecting a global human talent shortage of 85 million people by 2030.
The forum included leaders from South Africa, Botswana, DR Congo, Somalia, Egypt, and other nations, highlighting the continental scope of the economic discussions.
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