Some careers are carefully planned. Others unfold through unexpected turns, revealing exactly where someone is meant to be. For Godwin Aigbokhan, CITP, international trade began with a happenstance job opportunity with a friend.

“I entered the field of international trade by accident. I used to work in the development sector, specializing in private sector development. One day, a vacancy arose in an organization I was affiliated with, and a friend of mine resigned to join the development organization I was working for at the time. So, essentially, we switched roles,” he states. 

That chance transition opened the door to what would become a deeply impactful trade career that now sees him facilitating bilateral trade between Canadian and Nigerian companies with the Trade Commissioner Service, a position he’s been in for over 3 years. 

Showcasing adaptability in business during COVID-19

One of Godwin’s most memorable career moments occurred during a period of global crisis: COVID-19. With borders closed and companies unsure of their next move, Godwin helped design a fully virtual model for engagement. 

“During the pandemic, I organized both a virtual delegation trip and a virtual trade show. It was a fascinating experience as there was no template to guide my team.”

Over 1,000 participants from five countries joined the online trade show, an extraordinary number for a first-time digital event. Even more remarkable, several companies that learned about Nigeria for the first time through the show have since executed several projects in the country.

In a moment defined by uncertainty, Godwin created a new pathway for partnership and proved his sharp skill for innovation and adaptability within the world of trade. 

Finding hidden opportunities for good

Throughout his career, Godwin has discovered a unique strength: the ability to identify connections and commercial possibilities that aren’t obvious at first glance. 

“I believe I have a talent for identifying obscure opportunities across different industries.”

For him, the most rewarding moments come when companies validate those introductions—turning “hidden” opportunities into tangible impact. 

An example of this talent at work came with the development of a digital circular-economy marketplace. The project “allowed for the categorization and trading of household waste on an individual basis and diverted waste from landfills,” he states. His work relied on innovative trade models and showed how these can directly support sustainability and community development. 

Advice for trade professionals: Be adaptable—it will serve you well

International trade is rarely linear and Godwin learned early that rigid plans do not survive long in fast-moving environments. 

“

If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be to be adaptable, because the best-laid plans mean nothing if you can’t implement them. I learned this during the pandemic.”

Able to pivot and thrive during these circumstances himself, his advice proves useful in the current trade ecosystem. 

Affirming his experience through FITTskills training

Godwin’s experience with the FITTskills program helped clarify and validate all the hands-on work he’s undertaken throughout his career.

“Taking the FITTskills courses was a truly affirmative experience for me, as I was able to fit almost every activity I have undertaken in my career into the frameworks and models I learnt about during the courses. This made me feel as though none of my previous work was random. I am very grateful for this experience.”

His favourite course—International Market Entry Strategies—felt especially familiar. “I have actually, in one way or another, implemented all of the strategies in my career,” he says, adding that he loved being able to connect each strategy to a specific activity and company in his work history. 

The power of competence with a CITP

Godwin was inspired to get his Certified International Trade Professional (CITP®|FIBP®) designation because he wanted to project a high level of trade aptitude. “As an international trade professional, I want to project a certain level of competence,” he says, adding that “Earning the CITP designation would enhance my profile and help me to achieve this.” 

Not an easy feat to achieve, he feels “very proud” to have gained the designation and he sees it opening new doors for him within his organization. He also hopes that with it, he can play a role in helping his home country flourish with trade.  

“Currently, Africa represents only 3% of global trade, and Nigeria, my home country, has one of the lowest trade-to-GDP figures in the world at just 2%. I believe that by creating platforms for businesses to connect and discover hidden trade opportunities, it will be possible to create jobs, increase incomes, and improve living standards across the continent.”

A future focused on global growth

With a blend of development experience, trade insight, and a gift for uncovering unseen opportunities, Godwin is charting a path that bridges public policy, private enterprise, and international collaboration. 

His work proves that trade is far more than transactions. It is a mechanism for reshaping economies, elevating communities, and widening doors for countries poised for growth. 

The post CITP Spotlight: Godwin Aigbokhan — Trade Commissioner, Global Affairs Canada appeared first on Trade Ready.

The Obama administration in the U.S. is intent on developing closer trade relationships with African countries, as evidenced by a recent trip partly funded by the U.S.-sponsored International Trade Association to the continent in mid-September.

As part of the delegation, 108 American companies, including both small businesses and larger corporations, accompanied the association to the following countries: Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, and Tanzania.

During the trip, the delegation secured deals thought to be worth more than $14 billion in total, the U.S. Under-Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Stefan Selig said.

This is up from $7 billion in commitments to African commerce made at the U.S.-African Business Forum and the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in 2014.

U.S.-Africa trade is already growing rapidly

Goods exported by the U.S. to the African continent have increased by almost 60% since 2009, Selig said in a statement.

Total amount of U.S. trade with every African country is roughly equal to our [U.S.] trade relationship with Brazil.

The U.S. can make the greatest impact on African markets by investing in areas most in need of capital, which includes infrastructure and energy, one South African trade official said.

The American government is interested in increasing its trade relationship with African states for several reasons, among which is the end of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, part of an agreement under the auspices of the World Trade Organization.

The agreement limited the amount of textiles developing governments could export to developed countries. As a result of the lifting of the regulation, African states found themselves in more intense competition with countries in Asia and Latin America.

Another is to increase the American presence in African markets, which are now largely dominated by China.

AGOA is providing a stumbling block for future growth

While the trade mission recorded a successful trip, the U.S. trade agreement known as AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act), signed in 2000, is hitting an impasse as the U.S. is reconsidering South Africa’s inclusion in the pact.

AGOA is a trade deal with 39 African countries, renewed on a 10-year basis, most recently in June.

But debacles over poultry have caused a months-long rift between the U.S. and South Africa.

As it stands, the South African minister responsible for trade insists that South Africa has done everything necessary to meet the conditions of the trade deal, while the American side said there are still major unresolved issues.

The two sides had reached an agreement on poultry in June, but this accord suffered a setback shortly afterwards when avian flu was reported in the U.S.

Foreign ownership a major source of contention

South Africa exported $7.5 billion in shipments under the trade deal in 2014; of this, 75% was comprised of equipment for transportation. According to the USTR, the five largest exports from South Africa in 2013 were platinum and diamonds; automobiles; iron and steel; ores, slag, and ash; and machinery.

Poultry accounted for $24 million of U.S. exports to South Africa in 2013.

Poultry is not the only issue of dispute in the U.S.-South Africa rift.

Other stipulations require African countries to allow the U.S. to remove all barriers to investment and trade, which runs counter to proposed plans by the South African government to limit foreign ownership of companies operating in the private security sphere to 49%.

Such a regulation would violate the terms of AGOA, and would force Florida company ADT Corp. to give up control of its subsidiary in South Africa.

While other African nations have been kicked out of the trade program, South Africa is perhaps the most visible, if only second largest, economy of the nations participating in the agreement, and therefore has a reduced likelihood of being booted from the accord.

According to UN publication AfricaRenewal, exports from South Africa accounted for 13% of all exports under AGOA in 2011.

Could doing business in this growing market be part of your global growth strategy?

The post U.S. hones in on developing trade with Africa appeared first on Trade Ready.