Nigeria has unveiled its first African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Hackathon, offering a grand prize of N20 million, in a bold move to deepen its participation and unlock the full potential of the historic trade agreement.
The initiative, endorsed by the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office under the leadership of National Coordinator Olusegun Awolowo, aims to foster innovative, tech-driven solutions that can drive digital trade across the continent.
Organised by Cherith-Code Concept Limited, an international trade consortium, the hackathon is backed by a coalition of major partners, including Ascend Studios Foundation, Amazon Web Services (AWS), GFA Technologies, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and Real Sources Africa, a Kenya-based firm.
The event will particularly spotlight opportunities within the newly adopted AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol (DTP), offering Nigerian innovators a platform to develop cutting-edge solutions for Africa’s expanding digital economy.
Speaking on the launch, Senior Trade Expert and Lead at the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Olusegun Olutayo, said the hackathon targets Nigeria’s enterprising youth and aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, which seeks to strengthen the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Olutayo, who also serves as Director of the Nigerian AfCFTA Hackathon Project, emphasized that the platform would empower Nigerian tech talents to explore and dominate emerging markets across Africa, accelerating the country’s leadership in digital trade.
Scheduled to take place from May 1–3, 2025, in Lagos — Nigeria’s commercial and innovation hub — the hackathon will be held as a flagship event at the Science of Trade (SOT) Conference 2025, hosted by Ascend Studios Foundation.
Dr. Inya Lawal, Convener of the SOT Conference and Chief Operating Officer of Cherith-Code Concept, described the hackathon as a transformative project set to reshape Africa’s digital trade landscape.
“This event represents a major shift in how Africa approaches digital trade, sparking practical innovations that will shape the continent’s economic future,” Lawal said.
Touted as the first-of-its-kind on the continent, the hackathon is expected to set the pace for broader adoption and implementation of the AfCFTA’s Digital Trade Protocol, positioning Nigeria at the forefront of Africa’s evolving digital economy.
The Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, is expected to attend the conference as a special guest. He will deliver a keynote address, serve as a juror for the hackathon competition, and offer mentorship and policy guidance throughout the event.
