President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Patience Okala as the national Coordinator of Nigeria’s African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Coordination Office, effective immediately.
Okala, a veteran trade and investment professional, brings a wealth of experience in international economic policy and negotiations. Prior to this appointment, she served as director at the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), where she spearheaded Nigeria’s engagements on bilateral investment treaties and international negotiations spanning ICSID, UNCITRAL, AfCFTA, UNCTAD, IISD, and the OECD. Her tenure at NIPC was marked by efforts to position Nigeria as a competitive investment destination in Africa and beyond.
Between 2023 and 2025, Okala served as expert advisor to the AfCFTA Secretariat in Accra, providing strategic guidance on continental trade integration. She also held the position of Special Adviser to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, where she was instrumental in strengthening Nigeria’s AfCFTA institutional framework, overseeing the Central Coordination Committee, and supporting the country’s designation as Co-Champion of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade.
In her new capacity, Okala is expected to oversee the domestic implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement, coordinate engagement with national stakeholders, and drive Nigeria’s positioning within the continent’s trade architecture. Her appointment is seen to follow the legacy of the late Olusegun Awolowo and underscores the government’s commitment to deepening intra-African trade, expanding non-oil exports, and promoting sustainable economic growth.
