Lagos Fair Positions Nigerian Products To Tap AfCFTA’s 1.4bn Consumer Market – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu stated that the Lagos International Trade Fair will showcase Nigerian‑made textiles, technology, cocoa, creative arts, and agro‑products to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) 1.4 billion consumer market.

The President stated this at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Lagos International Trade Fair held yesterday in Lagos, running from November 7 to 16, 2025, with the theme, ‘Connecting Businesses, Creating Value’.

Representing the President, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Sen. John Enoh stated that “for decades, this fair has stood as a symbol of Nigerian enterprise, creativity, resilience, and an unyielding belief in possibility. Today, as I look across this gathering of visionary minds, manufacturers, farmers, digital creators, investors, and small business owners, I see not just a marketplace, but the very engine room of our nation’s future.”

According to Tinubu, the African Continental Free Trade Area is the most ambitious economic project in modern Africa, creating a market of 1.4 billion people and a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion.

He said, “Nigeria must not only participate in it, we must lead it. This fair provides the partnerships, conversations, and networks that will take Nigerian products, from textiles to technology, cocoa to creative arts, to every corner of the continent and beyond.”

The Governor of Lagos State, Olusola Sanwo-olu, represented by the Commissioner for Trade Investment, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose stated that this annual gathering is far more than an exhibition; it is a marketplace of ideas, a theatre of innovation, and a crucible for partnerships that will define the economic future of Lagos State and the nation.

Sanwo-Olu noted that “the theme of the trade fair, beautifully captures what Lagos stands for: a dynamic hub where vision meets value, and enterprise meets opportunity.”

The president of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), Mr. Gabriel Idahosa said the Fair will foster economic cooperation, strengthen industry networks, and enhance business connectivity within Nigeria and beyond.

He stated that the 2025 Lagos International Trade Fair leaps forward in scale, design, and diversity, saying that this year, we introduce a multi-exhibition model, multiple experiences in one grand location, allowing visitors to explore distinct sectors of opportunity within a single, vibrant ecosystem.

“This year’s fair holds special significance as Nigeria navigates an era of economic stabilization, marked by improvements in key indicators such as a decline in inflation, a rate cut on the monetary policy rate, a stable exchange rate, and targeted policy reforms across several sectors.

“As an incubator of ideas and a catalyst for commerce, the Lagos International Trade Fair serves as a beacon of opportunity, providing enterprises with a platform to showcase resilience-driven solutions, explore synergies, and drive sustainable growth in Nigeria and the wider region,” he explained.

Idahosa urged Nigerian businesses and entrepreneurs to seize the opportunity to network with these international exhibitors, initiate distributorship deals, and foster trade agreements that will enhance their business value chains and diversify their product offerings.