Policymakers, academics and capital market operators have called for stronger macroeconomic coordination, infrastructure financing and regulatory harmonisation to fast-track Africa’s economic integration.

This was part of the communiqué issued at the third Prof. Uche Uwaleke Biennial Colloquium on the Capital Market, held in honour of Prof Uche Uwaleke, Director of the Institute of Capital Market Studies at Nasarawa State University.

The forum focused on strategies to future-proof Africa-wide economic integration amid shifting technological, geopolitical and macroeconomic realities.

Participants described the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a transformative platform for boosting intra-African trade and cross-border investments, but warned that implementation gaps, non-tariff barriers and regulatory fragmentation continued to undermine progress.

They urged closer alignment with global trade rules under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and stronger trade facilitation systems.

Macroeconomic stability was also identified as the foundation for sustainable integration, with emphasis on price stability, fiscal discipline, exchange rate predictability and credible monetary frameworks.

Without these, long-term infrastructure financing and capital mobility would remain exposed to shocks.

The experts also stressed the need for interoperable settlement systems, harmonised listing standards and coordinated oversight across African exchanges to deepen cross-border investment.

They urged professional bodies such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) to strengthen collaboration across the continent to enhance financial reporting integrity and investor confidence.

Participants called for enabling fintech regulations, digital infrastructure development and innovative funding models, including green and diaspora bonds, to mobilise long-term capital for transformative projects.

They argued that Africa’s integration agenda must be deliberate and coordinated, anchored on resilient institutions, harmonised policies and sustained political commitment to unlock the full potential of the continent’s markets.