TRADING UNDER THE AFRICA CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AREA AGREEMENT: TOWARDS A LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROTOCOL ON WOMEN IN NIGERIA

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement represents a transformative opportunity for African economic and regional integration. Central to its inclusive vision is the Protocol on Women and Youth (the Protocol), which seeks to enhance the participation of these critical groups in intra-African trade. Using the doctrinal legal analysis and policy-oriented inquiry, this paper discusses the need for Nigeria to develop an inclusive, integrated, and gender-responsive approach to implementing the AfCFTA Agreement; trade-related gender sensitivity of the legal framework for implementing the AfCFTA Protocol with specific focus on Women; and the need to address existing legal and institutional gaps to help Nigeria unlock the productive capacities of women, enhance competitiveness and drive innovation. The paper demonstrates how a robust legal framework will ensure compliance with AfCFTA obligations and position Nigeria as a leader in promoting inclusive trade policies. The paper vehemently argues that the existence of a comprehensive legal framework tailored to Nigeria’s domestic need and its ability to dismantle barriers to women’s participation in intra-African trade holds excellent potential for the country to fully harness the benefits of the Protocol. The paper concludes that prioritising the implementation of the Protocol through appropriate legal measures is essential for fostering equitable economic growth and securing Nigeria’s strategic interests in the evolving African trade landscape.