Awolowo Decries Low Level Of Trade Among African Countries

With a population of over one billion people and a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $3m, the Executive Director, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Dr Olusegun Awolowo, has decried the low level of trade among African countries.

Represented by the Deputy Director, Policy and Strategy, Mr Akintunde Folorunso, at a one-day sensitization workshop on “Export Competency Development to Enhance MSMEs Success in ECOWAS & AfCFTA” in Benin on Tuesday, Dr Awolowo lamented that instead of trading among themselves, African countries prefer doing business with Americans, Europeans and Asians.

He said: “We have 55 countries in Africa with 1.2 billion people that trade among themselves. It is on record that, Africans don’t like trading with themselves. They like trading with Europe and America.