Nigerian Women Lead in Export: Making Up 39.17% of Country's Exporters – NEPC

Even though they constitute 39.17% of registered exporters in Nigeria, female-led enterprises still struggle to obtain the necessary resources for expanding their business activities.

This point was emphasized by NEPC’s Executive Director, Nonye Ayeni, at an event for the She Trades initiative. The event was held in partnership with ITC and supported financially by the UK government.

So far, among the 30,876 registered exporters, 12,095 are women, accounting for 39.17%. This indicates that Nigerian women are significant participants in international trade; however, it’s crucial to guarantee they receive adequate resources, funding, and assistance to expand their enterprises.

The Minister commended the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), which supports 3,600 women exporters, as well as the International Trade Centre (ITC) for their dedication to offering resource access and networking through 18 She Trades hubs.

During the event, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, who serves as the Minister for Industry, Trade, and Investment, received recognition for her significant impact on Nigeria’s trade and export industry.

Dr. Oduwole received recognition as Nigeria’s champion of export trade due to her remarkable contributions in fostering advantageous trade deals for the nation.

Associated News: The Federal Government aims to transform $50 billion pledges into concrete investments. They claim tax reform measures will enhance Nigeria’s economy. Additionally, the NEPC plans to optimize the processes of $93 billion worth of cross-border trading.

When presenting the award, Ayeni commended Oduwole’s commitment to broadening Nigeria’s trading prospects, with special recognition of her efforts supporting female business owners.

She pointed out that Nigeria, which has the biggest economy in Africa, has a population exceeding 200 million, with roughly two-thirds being individuals younger than 30 years old.

As reported by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the World Bank, more than 40% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria are owned by women. This statistic underscores the significant contribution of female entrepreneurs to economic development and creativity.

So far, among the 30,876 registered exporters, 12,095 are women, accounting for 39.17%. This indicates that Nigerian women are significant participants in international trade. However, it’s crucial to provide them with adequate resources, funding, and assistance to help grow their enterprises.

Oduwole additionally acknowledged the crucial role of women as a significant strategic foundation for the economy. "Women have consistently been central to Africa's economic endeavors—from transporting merchandise across borders to overseeing enterprises and generating premium exports."

Businesses led by women are fueling industrial growth, employment opportunities, and economic diversity. However, we acknowledge the obstacles numerous enterprises encounter when trying to access global markets, secure funding, and join trade networks.

SheTrades Nigeria was set up with the aim of dismantling these obstacles and empowering Nigerian women to succeed in international trade.

SheTrades offers female entrepreneurs and producers entry to essential information, tools, and connections, assists policymakers in implementing policies that promote inclusivity, and utilizes collaborations between government and business sectors to enhance the effectiveness of our initiatives.

“I encourage you to act—as a policymaker, business leader, or investor—by backing women-led enterprises, promoting additional training programs, ensuring accessibility, implementing supportive trade policies, and generating chances for women to expand and compete,” she asserted.

Oduwole expressed gratitude to his team for the accolade, mentioning "it came as a surprise."

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