From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
Gambia’s Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, Hon. Baboucarr Ousmaila Joof, has called for prioritising international law to enhance regional and global trade.
Speaking at the 8th Annual Conference of the International Law Association (ILA) Nigerian Branch at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, on April 12–13, Joof emphasised the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) as key to transforming Africa’s economy.
“International law provides the framework… to foster sustainable development,” Joof said, noting that trade wars like US-China-Canada and conflicts such as Russia-Ukraine disrupt global supply chains, creating risks and opportunities for Africa.
He urged African nations to harmonise trade laws, build regional value chains, and promote green trade to reduce reliance on raw exports and attract investment.
Joof praised Nigeria’s ILA for fostering dialogue, adding, “Africa’s future hinges on turning legal frameworks into tangible progress.”
Other speakers included Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) and Prof. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu. Joof commended the AfCFTA’s potential to unify 1.3 billion people, urging ratification of its Investment Protocol by 2025.