NILDS, APRI and AYGF Forge Strategic Coalition to Drive AfCFTA Implementation Across Nigeria

National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) has entered into a strategic partnership with the African Policy Research Institute (APRI) and the Africa Youth Growth Foundation (AYGF) to accelerate the national implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement and its operational protocols.

The partnership was established during a high-level consultative meeting at the NILDS headquarters in Abuja, bringing together leadership delegations from the three organisations.

Leading the visiting delegation, APRI Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Prof. Nana Tanko, described the continental trade agreement as an important economic opportunity that requires structured domestic policy interventions to ensure its benefits reach grassroots communities.

She outlined four key objectives of the proposed collaboration: raising awareness of the AfCFTA Agreement and its protocols; strengthening trade capacity among youths, women and vulnerable groups; equipping civil society organisations (CSOs) to monitor implementation; and creating platforms for sustained policy dialogue between grassroots operators and national policymakers.

“Our goal is to ensure Nigeria takes proactive advantage of the agreement by bringing grassroots experiences into the mainstream policy space,” Prof. Tanko stated, highlighting the importance of integrating women engaged in informal cross-border trade into formal economic structures.

Also speaking, AYGF Project Lead and Head of Business Development, Mr. Dalhatu Suleiman, highlighted the foundation’s grassroots engagement capacity, noting its over two decades of institutional experience and operational presence across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, as well as its outreach in other African countries. He said the organisation would leverage its networks to mobilise youths, vulnerable groups and community associations for the initiative.

The Director General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar O. Sulaiman, welcomed the partnership, noting that it aligns with the Institute’s mandate to support policy formulation, legislative research and capacity development.

He emphasised the legislature’s critical role in ensuring the effective implementation of continental agreements, stressing that lawmakers and relevant sub-national stakeholders must be actively involved in translating policy commitments into practical outcomes.

“The most critical organ in a functioning democracy is the legislature,” Prof. Sulaiman said. “If lawmakers do not buy into trade and policy frameworks, implementation becomes a serious challenge. We are ready to serve not merely as a wing, but as a shoulder to ensure this initiative succeeds.”

To support the collaboration, the Director-General committed NILDS’ institutional backing and identified technical personnel from four key areas: the Division of AfCFTA Law and Policy, Department of Legal Services, Economic and Social Research Division, and Democracy and Governance Division.

As an immediate step towards formalising the partnership, the meeting agreed that a joint technical and legal team, led by the Director of NILDS’ AfCFTA Law and Policy Division, Prof. Muhammad Tawfiq Ladan, would develop a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) within two weeks to guide the implementation process.

The meeting was attended by NILDS directors, alongside APRI Executive Director of Strategic Communication and Advocacy, Ms. Bosede Muibi; Programme Assistant, Ms. Fati Adamu; and AYGF Programmes Lead, Stephanie Anzam.

The engagement concluded with an exchange of gifts among the three organisations, symbolising goodwill and their shared commitment to advancing the partnership and supporting effective AfCFTA implementation in Nigeria.