Experts Advocate for Policy Discipline in African Integration

During the third Prof. Uch Uwalek Capital Market Colloquium held in Abuja, experts from various sectors called for a disciplined policy framework and coordinated efforts to drive African integration. They noted that the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) hinges on effective implementation of institutional policies across member states.

Key speakers included Prof. Uch Uwalek, Nigeria's first professor of capital market, and Prof. Ngozi Egbuna, Director General of the Debt Management Office. They highlighted that macroeconomic stability is crucial for sustaining cross-border capital flows and that infrastructure financing requires predictable monetary policies.

The experts pointed out that Africa's integration agenda faces challenges such as volatile exchange rates, high inflation, and infrastructural deficits. They recommended innovative funding models, including green bonds and public-private partnerships, to mobilize long-term domestic savings for investment.

Despite the strong legal framework provided by AfCFTA, non-tariff barriers and customs bottlenecks remain significant obstacles to trade facilitation.