Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu joined global parliamentary leaders at the 55th Session of the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organization (PCWTO) at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organization is a joint initiative of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the European Parliament that gives lawmakers worldwide a platform to engage directly with WTO processes and strengthen democratic oversight of global trade.
The 55th Session is focused on “Promoting Multilateralism through Digital Trade: What role for Parliaments?” It explores how legislators can shape fair, modern and inclusive rules that affect the realities of a rapidly expanding digital economy.
Why It Matters?
Digital trade already drives trillions in global commerce, but uneven access risks leaving developing nations behind. Parliaments must safeguard transparency,
inclusion, and accountability, while restoring confidence in the multilateral trading system.
Kalu showcased Nigeria’s strides in forward-thinking digital economy legislation and proposed two concrete actions to strengthen global digital trade governance:
✅A Legislative Tracking Mechanism for digital legislations worldwide.
✅A Model Digital Trade Legislative Toolkit for developing country parliaments—providing best-practice templates and policy options to help lawmakers craft pro-development digital economy laws that are interoperable with regional and global frameworks.
The Global Impact
This session strengthens cooperation among nations, supports laws that bridge the digital divide, and aligns trade rules with sustainable development, ensuring that global trade contributes to growth, equity, and resilience for all economies.
For Nigeria and Africa, digital trade represents both opportunity and challenge. Strong parliamentary engagement is essential to secure equitable access to digital markets, attract investment, and protect national interests within global trade governance.
As a Steering Committee Member, Rt. Hon. Kalu represents Nigeria and Africa, working alongside WTO Director General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and parliamentary leaders from eight countries and the European Parliament to shape the agenda of the Parliamentary Conference and amplify Africa’s priorities.
His mission, alongside many other parliamentarians, is to reinforce multilateralism, ensure Africa’s voice is central in digital trade discussions, and champion a fairer global economy where no nation is left behind.
