Afretrade has introduced a groundbreaking digital platform designed to boost economic opportunities for Africans by connecting verified talent, strengthening skills, expanding trade networks, and opening global market access. The company announced an ambitious target: empowering 100 million new businesses within the next five years through a trusted ecosystem that supports services, skills development, and cross-border trade across Africa and the diaspora.
Unveiled in Lagos, Afretrade’s management explained that the platform was created to solve long-standing gaps in trust, verification, and global visibility for African professionals. The system authenticates users, highlights their expertise, and positions them before international clients seeking reliable African talent. Its core functions—talent, trade, and training—aim to help artisans, freelancers, and service providers upgrade their capabilities to international standards while accessing broader markets.
One key feature is the platform’s ability to allow diaspora customers to book verified Nigerian service providers directly. This eliminates the uncertainty associated with unverified social media profiles and informal online marketplaces.
Improving African Trade Through Compliance and Standards
Afretrade noted that many African products struggle to gain acceptance abroad due to inadequate compliance with global regulations. To address this, the platform offers guidance on international standards and helps local businesses navigate export requirements, increasing their chances of entering foreign markets with fewer setbacks.
The company also highlighted its youth-focused training program, which provides practical skill development alongside stipends. The first youth cohort has already begun securing employment through these initiatives. Despite Africa’s enormous entrepreneurial potential, the organisation identified persistent challenges such as verification gaps, regulatory obstacles, inefficient payment systems, and limited knowledge of foreign markets. Afretrade aims to reduce these barriers through a more transparent and trusted system for businesses.
Closing the Skills Gap Across Nigeria and Africa
According to the firm, many young Nigerians still rely on outdated skills that reduce their competitiveness in a fast-changing job market. Through mentorship and training delivered by international partners in Europe and North America, the platform will support graduates and workers transitioning into modern, globally relevant roles. This investment in human capital, Afretrade stressed, is essential for improving household incomes and enhancing Africa’s long-term economic competitiveness.
The organisation also emphasised that while creating 100 million jobs may be unrealistic in the short term, enabling 100 million viable businesses is far more achievable. By verifying artisans, SMEs, exporters, real estate professionals, and manufacturers, Afretrade gives global investors, buyers, and off-takers confidence to interact with them directly. Verified users will also receive digital and physical badges that enhance trust. The company’s U.S. registration further boosts credibility for Africans seeking global business connections.
Additionally, Afretrade plans to support clusters of traders by helping them strengthen their collective bargaining power and negotiate better terms from suppliers.
Africa’s Growing Economic Potential
During the event’s keynote session, a guest speaker highlighted Africa’s massive growth potential, driven by its rapidly expanding population, technological adoption, and abundant natural resources. The speaker projected that by 2035, Africa’s working-age population will surpass that of both China and India combined. With targeted investments in education, digital innovation, and entrepreneurship, Africa’s youth could contribute as much as $500 billion to global GDP by 2050. The continent’s mineral resources, emerging tech hubs, and rapidly expanding mobile economy position it as one of the next global growth frontiers.
Afretrade concluded that its platform will provide training, verification, global partnerships, investor access, and market expansion—all essential tools for helping African businesses become scalable, competitive, and sustainable in global markets.
