Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, has highlighted the ability of Nigerian enterprises to harness innovation, investment, and continental integration to compete successfully on the global stage. She stated that this approach would facilitate job creation, local capacity building, and the strengthening of Africa's industrial future.
The minister made these remarks during a two-city trade facilitation tour of SecureID's state-of-the-art smart card manufacturing facilities in Lagos and Nairobi. The visit was part of her broader engagements on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Oduwole toured the company's EMV-certified payment card, SIM card, and secure government credential production lines, noting that SecureID's operations exemplify the potential unlocked through deeper intra-African trade and industrial collaboration under the AfCFTA.
During the tour, she observed live production operations, advanced card personalization systems, and the full range of SecureID's products and solutions, which have reached over 21 African countries and select European markets. The minister emphasized that this demonstrates the role of indigenous manufacturing in reducing import dependence while strengthening local capacity in strategic sectors like digital identity, payments, and secure credentials.
"This is precisely the spirit of the AfCFTA. Our best businesses should not stop at our borders but should carry African standards, jobs, and pride across the entire continent. SecureID has shown us what the future looks like, and it is already here," Oduwole said.
She expressed the ministry's commitment to collaborating with the private sector to remove bottlenecks, deepen intra-African trade, and unlock Africa's full industrial potential under the AfCFTA framework. "What I have seen in Lagos and Nairobi is remarkable. SecureID represents exactly the kind of value-adding, export-oriented, and pan-African manufacturing that the continent needs more of. This is a Nigerian and an African success story," she added.
Founder and Executive Vice Chairman of SecureID, Kofo Akinkugbe, acknowledged the significant progress made by President Bola Tinubu's administration in advancing Nigeria's industrial capacity, improving the ease of doing business, and positioning the country for deeper participation in intra-African trade. According to her, the administration's emphasis on export-led growth, implementation of the AfCFTA, and promotion of domestic value addition have created a more supportive environment for indigenous manufacturers seeking to expand across the continent.
Akinkugbe noted that the company currently produces over 60 percent of locally issued payment cards in Nigeria, reflecting the scale, reliability, and reach of its operations. She reaffirmed SecureID's commitment to Nigeria and Africa, describing the company's growth trajectory as evidence of what can be achieved through collaboration between government and industry. With over two decades of manufacturing experience, the company has emerged as one of Africa's leading smart card manufacturers.
Chairman of SecureID, Olumide Onakoya, also spoke, stating that the company's expansion reflects increasing opportunities created by regional integration and policy reforms aimed at strengthening African trade and manufacturing.
