In a bold move to unlock the vast potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office has announced the launch of the first-ever AfCFTA Hackathon in Nigeria—featuring a grand prize of ₦20 million.
The announcement, signed by Mr. Olusegun Olutayo, Lead at the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office and Director of the Hackathon Project, describes the initiative as a cutting-edge, tech-driven challenge aimed squarely at Nigeria’s dynamic youth population.
Led by Cherith-Code Concept Ltd, an International Trade Consortium, the hackathon enjoys the support of key partners including Ascend Studios Foundation, Amazon Web Services, GFA Technologies, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and Real Sources Africa, a Kenya-based company.
This annual high-impact event will focus on harnessing the opportunities presented by the recently adopted AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol (DTP), opening new frontiers for African entrepreneurs in the digital economy.
“The AfCFTA Hackathon is designed to expand opportunities under the AfCFTA framework, empowering Nigerian innovators to explore and dominate the continental market through digital trade,” Olutayo said.
Serving as a hub for competitive innovation, the hackathon will challenge participants to develop practical, transformative solutions that drive digital trade across Africa.
Set for May 2025 at Science of Trade (SOT) Conference
The inaugural hackathon will take center stage during the Science of Trade (SOT) Conference 2025, hosted by Ascend Studios Foundation, taking place from May 1 to 3, 2025, in Lagos.
Dr. Inya Lawal, Convener of the SOT Conference, expressed excitement about the hackathon’s potential to revolutionize Africa’s digital trade landscape and lauded the partnership with the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office.
Adding to the event’s prestige, the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, H.E. Wamkele Mene, is expected to attend as a special guest, where he will deliver a keynote address, serve on the hackathon’s jury panel, and provide mentorship and strategic policy guidance.
Meanwhile, the COO of Cherith-Code Concept emphasized that the hackathon marks a pivotal shift in Africa’s digital trade ecosystem, sparking the innovations necessary to shape the continent’s economic future.
With a ₦20 million prize on the line, and some of Africa’s top minds gathering in Lagos, the maiden AfCFTA Hackathon promises to be a game-changing moment for Nigeria’s digital economy and the future of trade across the continent.
