By Ephraim Oseji

Prince Chuks Moses Esiole, the Founder and Global President of the African Farmers and Cultural Organization (AFCO), an NGO committed to advancing food security, fair trade, and cultural preservation across the continent, strongly supported the recent comments made by business magnate Aliko Dangote at the Imo State Economic Summit.

Dangote’s call for African leaders to prioritize local manufacturing, invest in infrastructure, and foster an environment of economic independence which resonates deeply with AFCO’s core mission to liberate African producers from systemic exploitation.

Speaking at the sideline of the summit, Prince Esiole noted that he founded AFCO to directly combat what he terms the “trade war against Africa,” which he defines as the pervasive system of unfair trade restrictions, prohibitively high tariffs, and controlled commodity pricing that collectively suppress African value chains and perpetuate economic underdevelopment.

“Aliko Dangote is not just speaking to a regional audience; he is echoing the desperate need for a paradigm shift across the entire continent,” said Prince Esiole.

“For too long, Africa has been relegated to the role of a primary commodity exporter, subject to the whims of global trade systems designed to keep our prices low and our dependency high. We must heed this call by focusing on internal processing, value addition, and creating robust intra-African trade corridors.”

According to him, AFCO has announced the launch of its major flagship event, the Pan-African Produce and Cultural Festival (PAC-FEST). PAC-FEST is designed to be the continent’s premier annual event focused on showcasing and trading African-sourced, processed, and packaged goods, creating direct market linkages among farmers, processors, investors, and consumers, and celebrating the rich cultural heritage linked to African agriculture and artisan traditions.

Esiole said: ‘’Further strengthening its global reach, AFCO has formalized a major strategic partnership with the State of the African Diaspora (SOAD). This collaboration is designed to create a powerful bridge for trade, investment, and cultural exchange between the continent and the global African Diaspora.
“This partnership with SOAD is pivotal,” Prince Esiole commented.

“The Diaspora represents a massive pool of capital, expertise, and a guaranteed market that shares our heritage. By working together, we are not just trading goods; we are rebuilding the economic foundation of a united global African family.”

AFCO’s initiatives, PAC-FEST and the SOAD partnership, serve as a practical framework for the economic self-determination championed by Mr. Dangote, turning commentary into tangible, on-the-ground action for African farmers and entrepreneurs.