𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘀: 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀, 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗢𝗸𝗼𝗻𝗷𝗼-𝗜𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗮

The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said Nigeria has strong potential to capture a significant share of global supply chains if it creates the right environment to attract investors and boost manufacturing.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Okonjo-Iweala noted that shifting global trade patterns present a major opportunity for countries like Nigeria to position themselves as manufacturing and export hubs.

She said Nigeria’s large population, youthful workforce, and strategic location give it a competitive edge, stressing that targeted reforms could help the country drive job creation and industrial growth.

According to her, attracting global investors will require deliberate policies that promote macroeconomic stability, improve infrastructure, enhance trade facilitation, and reduce bottlenecks at ports and borders. She also highlighted the need for value addition rather than dependence on raw material exports.

Okonjo-Iweala further urged African countries to deepen regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing it as a critical platform for integrating African economies into global value chains.

She added that with consistent reforms and investor-friendly policies, Nigeria could become a key player in global manufacturing networks while creating millions of jobs for its growing population.