By Ayomide Otitoju
ExportPlug has emerged winner of the first-ever AfCFTA Hackathon, taking home the ₦20 million grand prize during the Science of Trade Conference 2025 in Abuja. The winning team was lauded for its innovative export-enabling platform designed to simplify cross-border trade by connecting African producers with new markets using smart algorithms and competitive pricing.
Organised by the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, the three-day hackathon gathered 60 tech-driven teams to pitch solutions enhancing intra-African trade and digital commerce. Finalists were selected from over 300 participants across the continent, with three teams emerging as winners.
The event was supported by partners including NITDA, Ascend Studios Foundation, Amazon Web Services, GFA Technologies, and the AfCFTA Secretariat.
National Coordinator of the Nigeria AfCFTA Office, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, hailed the hackathon as a “digital leap” that underscored youth innovation and the power of technology in driving Africa’s trade integration. “It proves that youth-powered technology is the heartbeat of a united, competitive, and prosperous African market,” he said.
Other speakers echoed support for scaling the innovation ecosystem across Africa, with stakeholders affirming continued commitment to support digital transformation and intra-African trade.
