Otamere Gladness 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged African governments to embed child-centred policies into the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), arguing that the agreement has the potential to lift more than 30 million people — including millions of children — out of poverty.
Speaking at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) 2025 on Wednesday, UNICEF Deputy Representative, Laryea Adjei, described the AfCFTA as a historic opportunity to shape an economic environment that prioritises children’s wellbeing and long-term development outcomes.
“The AfCFTA is more than a trade agreement; it is a covenant with Africa’s future,” Adjei said. “If we make it a vehicle for investing in children, we can unlock a virtuous cycle of inclusive growth and stability.”
He emphasised that ensuring access to quality healthcare, inclusive education, nutrition support, and social protection systems must be integral to trade reforms.
Experts say the AfCFTA could transform Africa’s low intra-continental trade levels by creating a market linking 54 countries with a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion. UNICEF noted that without deliberate safeguards, existing inequalities could widen rather than narrow.
The agency called for strategic investment in youth-oriented job creation, child-rights compliant supply chains, gender-responsive industrial policies, and targeted budget allocations to social sectors.
UNICEF said that a child-focused AfCFTA framework would strengthen resilience, accelerate economic mobility, and secure the foundations for sustainable development across the continent.
UNICEF Calls for Child-Centred AfCFTA to Drive Inclusive Growth
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Oluwatobi Adu 
Chukwu Obinna 
Korede Abdullah 