Okonjo-Iweala Calls For Shift From Technology Imports to Local Manufacturing

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has urged Nigeria to move decisively beyond importing technology to manufacturing it locally, warning that continued dependence on foreign technology weakens the country’s industrial base and limits job creation in the digital economy.

Speaking at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Okonjo-Iweala said the ongoing disruption of the global order—driven by technology, geopolitics, and climate pressures—presents both serious risks and unprecedented opportunities for Nigeria and Africa, provided they act strategically.

“It is always a pleasure to come home to Nigeria, but it is particularly special to be here at one of the country’s most important seats of learning,” she said, stressing that universities such as ABU must remain central to Africa’s technological, industrial, and economic transformation.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s post-independence journey, Okonjo-Iweala recalled that the country had only one degree-awarding institution in 1960, making the rapid expansion of universities a cornerstone of nation-building.

She noted that institutions like ABU—founded in 1962 as the University of Northern Nigeria—have played a pivotal role in building Nigeria’s scientific, technological, and entrepreneurial capacity. Today, ABU operates as a multidisciplinary institution producing graduates across engineering, medicine, sciences, ICT, public administration, and the humanities.

“Research conducted here has advanced the frontier of knowledge and provided practical solutions to real-world problems, from animal feed innovations during dry seasons to wind power generation in rural areas,” she said.

Turning to global trends, the WTO chief identified technology—particularly the internet and artificial intelligence (AI)—as one of the most disruptive forces reshaping trade, production, and employment worldwide.

“The technological shift we are experiencing has made it easier to communicate, produce, and trade, but not everyone has shared equally in the gains,” she said, warning that automation and AI could deepen inequality if not properly managed.

She stressed that global trade rules and multilateral institutions must evolve to respond effectively to emerging technologies such as AI and quantum computing.

“We need a new kind of multilateralism—one that is nimble, responsive, and capable of addressing new global opportunities,” she said.

Okonjo-Iweala said Africa stands to benefit from what the WTO now describes as “re-globalisation”—the diversification of global supply chains away from over-dependence on a few countries.

She highlighted opportunities in labour-intensive manufacturing, critical minerals processing, renewable energy technology, pharmaceuticals, agro-processing, and electric vehicle (EV) supply chains.

“Africa has the capacity to process its critical minerals all the way to EV battery manufacturing,” she said, pointing to Nigeria’s emerging lithium processing investments and vast renewable energy potential.

Reinforcing her call for local technology production, Okonjo-Iweala urged Nigeria to stop importing technologies it has the capacity to produce domestically.

“Instead of importing solar panels, we should be manufacturing them here. That is how we create jobs, build resilience, and grow our economy,” she said.

She warned that Nigeria’s projected economic growth rate of 4.4 per cent remains inadequate once population growth is considered, calling instead for sustained growth of 6 to 7 per cent, driven by productivity, technology adoption, and value addition.

Achieving this, she said, would require robust digital infrastructure, skills development, innovation-friendly policies, and the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

“Technology-enabled trade and deeper regional integration could increase intra-African trade by up to 45 per cent and lift millions of people out of poverty,” she said.

With Africa projected to account for about 25 per cent of the global working-age population by 2050, Okonjo-Iweala described Nigeria’s youthful population as one of its greatest strategic assets.

“On an ageing planet, Africa’s youth represent the world’s future talent pool,” she said, urging stronger alignment between education, innovation, and industrial policy.

She called for deeper collaboration among academia, industry, and government to ensure Nigeria does not miss the opportunities created by global technological disruption.

“This country has what it takes. What we need is urgency, coordination, and the courage to invest in our people and our ideas,” Okonjo-Iweala said.