The Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, has declared women-led businesses as the cornerstone of Nigeria’s ambition to expand its share of global trade, urging stronger participation of female entrepreneurs in the non-oil export sector.
Executive Director of NEPC, Nonye Ayeni, stated this on Tuesday at the Women Exporters Conference in Abuja.
Ayeni stressed the urgency of repositioning Nigeria within the global export market, stating that to the country’s current marginal share was a call to action.
“In 2024, global merchandise exports stood at approximately 24.5 trillion dollars. Africa accounted for just 3.5 percent of that total… and Nigeria’s share was only 0.26 percent. However, that gap represents opportunity,” she said.
She stressed that even modest improvements in Nigeria’s global trade positioning could yield significant economic benefits, given the country’s population and resource base.
“If Nigeria moves even modestly… within global trade, the impact on businesses and on the economy will be significant,” Ayeni added.
She noted that central to that ambition are small and medium-sized enterprises, SMEs, which make up about 96 per cent of businesses in Nigeria, with women accounting for roughly 40 percent of that segment.
“You cannot achieve inclusive growth without them,” she said, aligning the push with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“When we talk about economic diversification, job creation and inclusive growth… we are talking about women,” she said.
Ayeni highlighted recent gains in the non-oil export sector, revealing that Nigeria recorded its highest-ever export value of $6.1 billion in 2025, alongside a record volume of 8.02 million metric tonnes.
“These two… are the highest in the history of the country and since the Council was established,” she said, attributing the achievement to government policy direction, NEPC interventions and “the hard work and dedication of… exporters, particularly the SMEs.”
She, however, maintained that sustaining this momentum would require deliberate investment in women-led businesses through training, certification, financing and market access.
While detailing NEPC’s interventions, Ayeni disclosed that the council conducted 728 capacity-building programmes in 2025, impacting over 97,000 participants across the export value chain.
“These trainings covered good agricultural practices, packaging, labelling, export documentation, mentorship, quality and standards, and more,” she said.
On standards compliance, she revealed that NEPC facilitated 210 international certifications last year, with about half going to women.
“We understand that without standards, there is no access to markets, and we are addressing that directly,” she stated.
Ayeni also highlighted targeted programmes such as the Women in Export Development Programme and the SheTrades Nigeria Hub, implemented in partnership with the International Trade Centre, which has supported over 5,000 women with market access and trade opportunities.
“Our targeted programmes for women are expanding,” she said, adding that Nigerian women have also been linked to global markets through participation in trade events across Europe, Africa and other regions.
A major highlight of her address was the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy, WEIDE, Fund, a $50 million initiative by the World Trade Organization and the International Trade Centre.
Ayeni disclosed that Nigeria was selected as one of only four countries globally to implement the programme’s first phase.
“When we called for applications in Nigeria, over 67,000 women applied. That alone tells you the level of interest and the scale of need,” she said.
From the pool, 146 women entrepreneurs were selected to receive training, mentorship and grants ranging from $5,000 to $30,000.
“They are being positioned to compete, not just locally, but globally, and through digital platforms. It is not just a programme, it is a pathway,” she added.
Despite these efforts, Ayeni acknowledged that challenges remain and urged participants to take full advantage of the conference, which she described as a practical engagement platform.
“This conference is not just a gathering. It is a working platform. There are help desks here… institutions present to support you directly. This is an opportunity to ask questions, to get clarity, and to make connections,” she said.
She emphasised resilience, ambition and the importance of seizing opportunities.
“The future of commerce will not belong to those who wait. It will belong to those who innovate and take advantage of opportunities.
“If you want to create generational wealth, you invest in a woman. Women are made of sterner stuff… our strength… has the force of a dynamite that can break barriers and move mountains,” she added.
