Academia vital to intra-African trade, growth, economist says

It is only a few weeks to the fourth Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF).

IATF 2025, in Algiers, Algeria, is being organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union Commission and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.

Known as the ultimate marketplace for African businesses, investors and entrepreneurs, IATF 2025 is expected to generate US$44 billion in trade and investments, and draw more than 35,000 delegates across several sectors, including the media, while featuring over 2,000 exhibitors from more than 75 countries. It takes place on 4 to 10 September.

In early 2025, Afreximbank launched the African Research and Innovation Hub @IATF as a way of involving academia in promoting the understanding of intra-African trade.

In this interview with University World News, Dr Yemi Kale, the group chief economist and managing director of research and trade intelligence at Afreximbank, sheds more light on the hub’s objectives and how academia can become a catalytic force for African trade growth.

UWN: Why was the African Research and Innovation Hub @IATF launched?

YK: The hub was created to address a fundamental gap in Africa’s development landscape: the disconnect between academic innovation and commercial application. Our vision is to create a conduit whereby groundbreaking African research and prototypes can move from universities into industries and markets. The hub empowers researchers, students and academics – especially those from under-represented backgrounds – with the exposure, mentorship and investment needed to bring their ideas to life.

Africa is not short of talent. Innovators like the late [Ghanaian American chemical engineer and inventor] Dr Thomas Mensah, who played a pivotal role in the advancement of fibre optics, show what is possible when talent meets opportunity. We aim to replicate and multiply such successes by giving African innovators a platform to be seen, supported and scaled.

UWN: What do the hub’s activities entail?

YK: The hub’s central objective is to catalyse Africa’s economic transformation through innovation-led research. We are building a trusted and structured platform where African academics can gain the visibility, credibility and commercial traction they deserve. It’s about creating a bridge – between research and real-world impact, between academia and enterprise. Through this initiative, we promote collaborations among policymakers, educators, business leaders and financiers to turn innovative concepts into market-ready solutions that accelerate intra-African trade, support AfCFTA objectives, and drive sustainable development.

UWN: What opportunities does the platform provide?

YK: The African Research and Innovation Hub @IATF provides successful applicants with the opportunities to benefit from investor engagement, such as:

• Direct access to venture capitalists, innovation funds, and commercial partners;

• Visibility and promotion: a platform to display work at high-profile events such as the intra-African trade fair (AITF);

• Knowledge access: exposure to industry intelligence, market trends and relevant policy data; and

• Commercial readiness: mentorship and tools to transform prototypes and publications into viable businesses or policy solutions.

This is, therefore, not merely a research exhibit, but an on-ramp to innovation ecosystems across Africa and the global market.

UWN: How can academia contribute to improving intra-African trade?

YK: Academia plays a pivotal role in advancing intra-African trade by deepening understanding, shaping policy, and driving innovation. As trade across the continent becomes more complex, academic institutions can provide the knowledge and analytical tools needed to navigate and shape this evolving landscape. This can be done through strengthening education and capacity.

By equipping lecturers and students with comprehensive data, case studies and analytical frameworks, academia enhances the teaching and understanding of trade policies, trade standards, regional economic communities, and the AfCFTA. This creates a knowledgeable workforce capable of implementing and benefiting from regional integration.

Also, through platforms like the African Research and Innovation Hub @IATF, academic institutions can actively participate in the policymaking process. Evidence-based research from universities and think tanks helps governments and trade bodies to design more effective, inclusive trade policies.

Academia brings together diverse disciplines – from economics and logistics to law, political science, and technology – to offer practical, cross-cutting solutions to trade challenges. This kind of research is vital to addressing the real-world barriers to intra-African trade, such as non-tariff barriers, infrastructure gaps, and customs inefficiencies.

Furthermore, as Africa works to industrialise and move up global value chains, academic research can support this transition through innovation in production, supply chain management, and technology adoption, which are key drivers of competitive regional economies. Accordingly, in a volatile global economic environment, harnessing the capabilities and ambitions of African academia will be crucial to accelerating intra-African trade and industrialisation, ultimately supporting sustainable economic growth across the continent.

UWN: Are IATF and Afreximbank focusing on academics, researchers and students to support intra-African growth?

YK: We focus on academic communities because they are rich sources of untapped innovation. Many researchers and students are already solving Africa’s most pressing problems; they simply need the support and exposure to scale their work. Take, for instance, Dr Mamadou Gouro Sidibe and the Lenali App, an audio-based platform that enables non-literate entrepreneurs to engage in digital commerce.

This type of grassroots innovation enhances inclusion and can transform entire communities. By empowering academics, we are investing in Africa’s next generation of business and policy leaders – those capable of turning Africa’s challenges into opportunities and exporting home-grown solutions across the continent.

UWN: You asked university lecturers and students to submit their research publications and prototypes for exhibition at the IATF2025. Were you satisfied with the applications received?

YK: We sought impact-driven, scalable research aligned with Africa’s trade and development priorities. This includes innovations that address infrastructure bottlenecks, enhance regional logistics, promote digital inclusion, or drive local industrialisation. Projects were expected to align with AfCFTA’s strategic objectives and show clear commercial or policy relevance.

We were pleased by the volume and quality of submissions received. They reaffirm the depth of innovation within African academic institutions and highlight the urgent need for platforms that can elevate these ideas onto the continental stage.

This interview has been edited for clarity.