Under the framework of the EU-WCO Rules of Origin (RoO) Africa Programme, funded by the European Union, the World Customs Organization (WCO), in collaboration with the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office and the Nigeria Customs Service, held an Advanced Training on Rules of Origin in Abuja, Nigeria, from 16 to 18 September 2025. The Workshop aimed to strengthen the competencies of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office staff and stakeholders to enhance the implementation and application of Rules of Origin.
This Workshop formed part of a comprehensive training cycle designed to progressively build expertise, guiding participants from basic to advanced levels, and ultimately to Training of Trainers (ToT). By the end of this cycle, Nigeria will have developed a pool of well-equipped origin trainers capable of sustainably supporting the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as well as other applicable Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
The AfCFTA seeks to accelerate intra-African trade and strengthen Africa’s trading position in the global market. Achieving these goals requires the capacity building of all actors within the international trade supply chain at the national, regional, and continental levels. Reflecting this, the Workshop brought together participants from a wide range of sectors, including officials of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office and representatives from Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Federal Ministry of Finance, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, Nigeria Association of Small-Scale Industrialists, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment, Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.
Through in-depth sessions, participants gained clarity on origin concepts to ensure uniform and consistent application of the Rules of Origin. A variety of learner-centric methodologies including exercises, case studies, plenary discussions, brainstorming sessions, and practical illustrations were used to achieve the set learning outcomes.
By the end of the Workshop, participants expressed strong confidence in their ability not only to apply Rules of Origin effectively but also to support other economic operators in leveraging opportunities provided by the FTAs to which Nigeria is a party.
In line with the WCO’s Capacity Building Paradigm, the Workshop was co-facilitated by an official from the Nigeria Customs Service who had successfully completed the full training cycle and is now recognized as an expert trainer in Rules of Origin. The success of the Workshop stands as a testament to the synergies achieved through collaboration and partnership.
For further information please contact EU-WCORoOAfrica.Program@wcoomd.org