The Executive Director and CEO of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nonye Ayeni, has disclosed that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) account for about 96% of businesses in Nigeria, with approximately 32% of them led by women.
Ayeni made this revelation at the HER-SHOWCASE: Trade Beyond Borders event, organised in partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC) in Abuja.
Citing a 2024 PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report, she emphasised the vital contribution of women entrepreneurs to the non-oil export sector.
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Empowering women-led businesses
According to Ayeni, the event aimed to facilitate business networking, market connections, and product exhibitions for women-led businesses, celebrating their exceptional contributions to trade and exploring new growth opportunities.
“This event is designed to facilitate business networking, market connections, and product exhibitions for women-led businesses. We celebrate the extraordinary contributions of women in trade and explore new growth opportunities,” she said.
She stressed the need to empower SMEs, particularly women-led enterprises, to leverage technology and globalisation. Ayeni noted that digital trade platforms and e-commerce are crucial drivers of sustainable economic growth and reaffirmed NEPC’s commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs through various programs and partnerships.
Read also: Middle East, African SMEs record strong growth in Digital Payments
Women as key players in trade
The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, also addressed the event, highlighting Africa’s evolving trade landscape.
She stated that the conversation on gender and trade had evolved from merely granting women a seat at the table to recognising them as influential agents of change within the sector.
“Women are not just participants but key players—acting as consumers, producers, distributors, and decision-makers across the value chain,” Oduwole said.
