The Federal Government has introduced a new initiative aimed at empowering 10,000 women-owned export-ready businesses in Nigeria by 2030, while also creating international market access for 3,000 women-led small and medium-sized enterprises by 2027.
The announcement was made during the official launch of the Women in Export Development Initiative in Abuja, where First Lady Senator Remi Tinubu, represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, addressed participants.
In her keynote speech, the First Lady described the event as more than just a programme launch, saying, “We are igniting a beacon that will illuminate the path for thousands of Nigerian women entrepreneurs determined to take their rightful place on the global trade stage.”
She explained that the initiative, launched in collaboration with the World Trade Organisation, the International Trade Centre, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, will focus on boosting women’s participation in global markets through capacity building, export literacy, and linkages to international value chains.
She noted that grassroots export literacy will be delivered through cluster hubs in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with global connections supported by platforms such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, ECOWAS Trade Hub, ITC SheTrades, and UN Women partnerships.
Emphasising the economic importance of women’s participation, she said, “Closing gender gaps in economic participation could grow Nigeria’s GDP by up to 23 per cent. Women own 41 per cent of micro-businesses and contribute close to 29 per cent of our GDP, yet only 15 per cent participate in formal export trade.”
Highlighting the population statistics, she added, “Women represent 49.3 per cent, or 115.01 million, of the country’s population. That is a compelling call to action. Women are half the power, half the potential, and more than half the promise of this great nation.”
She praised Nigerian women for their impact in sectors such as agribusiness and technology and commended the NEPC for hosting the SheTrades Nigeria Hub for over eight years, connecting more than 4,000 women entrepreneurs to global markets.
She also acknowledged the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, referring to her as “the SheTrades Champion.”
The First Lady listed other federal initiatives to support women, including the Nigeria for Women Programme, a national women e-market portal, digital skills training for over 20,000 women, and the Naija Save Nigeria financial literacy scheme.
“When a woman exports, she does more than earn. She empowers. Studies show that women reinvest up to 90 per cent of their earnings into their families, healthcare, and education. That is not just business growth.
That is nation-building,” she said. Quoting former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, she added, “There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.” She urged government bodies, the private sector, development partners, and civil society to ensure that the initiative becomes a lasting turning point.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, announced the rollout of the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy Fund in Nigeria, a $50 million initiative jointly established by the WTO and the International Trade Centre to create opportunities for women in digital trade.
According to her, 146 women entrepreneurs have been selected to benefit from the scheme. Sixteen entrepreneurs in the Booster Track will receive up to $30,000 each along with 18 months of technical assistance, while 130 in the Discovery Track will receive up to $5,000 each and one year of business support.
Minister Oduwole praised the WTO and ITC for their partnership, stressing that digital trade offers Nigerian women opportunities to reach international customers, integrate into global value chains, and promote their products and services worldwide.
She reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to aligning the programme with national digital economy and trade strategies, improving export processes, reducing trade barriers, and expanding financing options for women-led businesses.
She also linked the initiative to President Bola Tinubu’s eight-point agenda and the goal of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030, saying, “We want Nigerian women to export not just products, but also ideas, culture, and innovation. Let today mark the beginning of a new era where our women rise, export, and lead on the global stage.”
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Nonye Ayeni, described the launch as a major milestone for women entrepreneurs and a recognition of their resilience and capacity to compete globally.
She expressed appreciation to the First Lady for her commitment to women’s progress, to the WTO Director-General for initiating the WEIDE Fund, and to Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of the International Trade Centre, for her consistent advocacy for women in trade.
Ayeni revealed that the application process received 68,000 entries from all six geopolitical zones, showing the strong entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerian women.
The 146 beneficiaries will gain not only financial support but also training in digital trade, capacity building, access to finance, and digital skills to compete in international markets. “The WEIDE Fund is not just about grants. It is about unlocking the immense potential of our SMEs, particularly women-led businesses,” she stated. She stressed that women remain central to driving digital trade and economic growth.
The launch highlighted the combined efforts of global organisations, the Nigerian government, and trade agencies to enhance women’s capacity in export trade and digital entrepreneurship.
The event also underscored the role of high-level collaboration in promoting economic development, gender equality, and inclusive growth. This initiative is seen as a strategic move to increase Nigeria’s competitiveness in global trade while ensuring that women are at the forefront of economic transformation.
By linking local women entrepreneurs to platforms like AfCFTA, ECOWAS Trade Hub, ITC SheTrades, and UN Women, the programme seeks to position Nigerian women as major contributors to international trade.
The speeches at the event reflected a strong consensus that empowering women in trade is not just an economic necessity but a social imperative. The First Lady’s message, along with remarks from the WTO, ITC, NEPC, and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, set a tone of determination to close gender gaps and create sustainable opportunities for women in business.
The integration of high-value keywords such as women entrepreneurs, export trade, digital economy, and global markets throughout the event’s discussions further underlined the economic significance of the launch.
By 2030, the government expects the programme to have created a strong base of export-ready women entrepreneurs, positioned Nigeria as a hub for women-led trade in Africa, and contributed significantly to national GDP growth.
The launch of the Women in Export Development Initiative and the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy Fund represents a coordinated approach to tackling existing barriers to women’s participation in international markets and the digital economy.
The programme’s emphasis on capacity building, access to finance, and integration into global trade systems is aimed at creating a lasting impact on Nigeria’s economic landscape.