Okonjo-Iweala Urges Nigeria To Seize Global Supply Chain Shift

Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has urged Nigeria and other African countries to take advantage of shifting global supply chains to accelerate industrialisation, attract investment and expand manufacturing.
Speaking at the seventh Africa Emerging Markets Forum in Abuja, Okonjo-Iweala said geopolitical tensions and disruptions to global trade were creating new opportunities for countries capable of providing competitive production locations.
She noted that multinational companies are increasingly diversifying production networks following the COVID-19 pandemic and rising geopolitical uncertainties, creating an opening for Africa to secure a larger share of global manufacturing investment.
The WTO chief, however, warned that the opportunity would only materialise if governments address infrastructure deficits, improve governance, strengthen institutions and eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks that discourage investors.
She said West Africa possesses significant deposits of critical minerals required for renewable energy technologies and electric vehicle batteries, stressing that African countries should develop regional value chains instead of pursuing isolated national strategies.
Okonjo-Iweala also challenged Nigeria to ensure that ongoing economic reforms translate into jobs, stronger industrial output and improved living standards, arguing that macroeconomic stability alone would not sustain public confidence.
She called for accelerated implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), saying deeper intra-African trade would reduce dependence on external markets while unlocking the continent’s growing consumer base.
The WTO chief further urged Nigeria to diversify exports beyond crude oil, mobilise more domestic investment and create an enabling business environment capable of attracting long-term capital.