The Oyo State Government has held a post-launch engagement on its Subnational African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Implementation Strategy, as part of efforts to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and expand their access to regional markets.
The engagement, which follows the official launch of the strategy on September 12, 2025, is a statutory administrative process aimed at deepening stakeholder collaboration and ensuring effective execution of the AfCFTA roadmap in the state.
According to the State Ministry of Trade, Investment and Cooperatives, the initiative seeks to position Oyo-based businesses, particularly SMEs, to take advantage of emerging trade opportunities across Africa under the AfCFTA framework.
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The post-launch engagement brought together key stakeholders, including representatives of business associations, cooperatives, exporters, financial institutions, and development partners, to discuss implementation mechanisms and identify sector-specific support for local enterprises.
Through the strategy, Oyo State aims to boost industrial competitiveness, promote value addition, and enhance export readiness among small businesses. The framework also outlines measures to improve access to finance, business advisory services, and digital trade platforms to enable SMEs to compete effectively within the continental free trade area.
Officials noted that the post-launch engagement marks a critical step in translating policy commitments into actionable programs that will stimulate inclusive growth, job creation, and sustainable development across the state's SME ecosystem.
