The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment Doris Uzoka-Anite says her ministry has embarked on a transformative journey by spearheading the formulation of Nigeria’s National
E-commerce Strategy.
She stated this at a one day stakeholders sensitization workshop on the implementation of the developed national e-commerce strategy held in Kaduna.
The event with the theme
Implementation of National E-Commerce Strategy: Catalyst for harnessing the transformative power of digital commerce for sustainable economic growth and development in Nigeria aimed at sensitizing stakeholders in the e-commerce ecosystem to key into the implementation of the National Strategy.
The National E-Commerce Strategy was developed within a national participatory process through a series of stakeholders’ consultations, workshops, and engagements.
The Minister who was represented by the Director Commodities and Export Department, Mr. Kaura Irimiya said available data indicated that the current market opportunity for electronic
e-commerce in Nigeria was over two hundred and fifty five billion naira annually, growing at a rapid rate of twenty five percent per annum and had attracted over two hundred million dollars in foreign investment.
The Minister also announced that experts on financial service sector estimated that Nigeria’s e-commerce market was currently worth about thirteen billion in twenty seventeen and estimated to reach fifty billion dollars over the next ten years.
Doris Uzoka-Anitee said the present administration had articulated an ambitious vision to propel the Nigerian economy to unprecedented heights, setting a formidable target of achieving a one trillion-dollar economy by twenty thirty.
In her address, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology, Mrs. Patience Fakai explained that isues such as infrastructure, digital literacy, access to digital payment systems, consumer trust, and regulatory frameworks must be addressed as long as Nigeria need to develop her e-commerce.
She said the workshop was timely and would help to develop insights that would create a holistic strategy that would ensure sustainable e-commerce in Nigeria.
In his goodwill message, the Executive Director, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni announced that the e-commerce has emerged as a powerful tool for sustainable economic growth and development in Nigeria.
She explained that her council was geared towards increasing the country’s value and volume of export, adding that Nigeria is the thirty eight largest market for e-commerce ahead of Pakistan and behind Findland yearly growth rate expected at twelve percent between 2021 to 2025.
During the occasion, NAFDAC, National Orientation Agency and SMEDAN expressed their willingness to partner the ministry for the development of e-commerce in the country.
Cov/Adamu Yusuf
