Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, has urged global parliamentarians to take bold legislative measures that will position digital trade as a shared engine of growth.
Speaking at the WTO-IPU Steering Committee session during the WTO Public Forum 2025 in Geneva, Kalu framed digital trade as one of the greatest governance challenges of the era, stressing that countries lacking robust rules risk exclusion from the global economy. He highlighted Africa’s proactive approach through the AfCFTA and its Digital Trade Protocol, which provide a blueprint for a harmonized regional digital market.
Kalu underscored Nigeria’s leadership, citing the Nigeria Data Protection Act (2023) and the forthcoming National Digital Economy Bill as legal frameworks designed to anchor e-commerce, privacy, and digital investments. He insisted that parliaments across Africa are not passive observers but active drivers of the continent’s digital future. Importantly, he stressed that laws must not only exist but be enforceable, with smaller economies needing binding dispute settlement mechanisms to survive in the global trade arena.
To move from speeches to action, Kalu proposed three key initiatives:
- A Legislative Tracking Mechanism to foster peer-to-peer accountability among parliaments.
- Concrete WTO support for AfCFTA implementation to accelerate digital trade integration in Africa.
- A Model Digital Trade Legislative Toolkit, developed with UNCTAD and ITC, to equip parliaments with best practices for a pro-development digital economy.
Africa is taking charge of its digital trade future by positioning the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol as a key driver of regional integration. Nigeria, in particular, is leading by example with landmark legislation such as the Nigeria Data Protection Act and the forthcoming National Digital Economy Bill, setting a standard for other African nations. Strong and enforceable laws, rather than mere frameworks, are seen as essential to unlocking digital trade’s full potential and protecting smaller economies from being sidelined.
At the global level, Kalu emphasizes the importance of closer cooperation between the WTO and AfCFTA to accelerate Africa’s digital trade agenda. He highlights the need for practical tools such as a Model Legislative Toolkit to harmonize laws, foster knowledge-sharing, and promote efficiency across African parliaments. Ultimately, Africa faces a stark choice: either accept a fragmented digital future shaped by external forces or build a shared digital prosperity rooted in trust, inclusivity, and African-led collaboration.