Abuja: The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has announced the facilitation of a significant grant disbursement to empower 128 women-owned export-oriented Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The grant, valued at 710,000 dollars (N979.8 million), is part of the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) fund.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Executive Director/CEO of NEPC, Mrs Nonye Ayeni, revealed this development in a statement issued by Mr Aliu Sadiq, the Head of Corporate Communications, on Thursday. Ayeni highlighted that 121 Nigerian women-owned businesses have been awarded discovery grants of 5,000 dollars each, while seven businesses have received booster grants of 15,000 dollars each. The WEIDE fund is a collaborative initiative of the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), supported financially by international partners.
Ayeni explained that the initiative is designed to improve the competitiveness of women-led businesses by providing access to finance, business development support, digital skills, and opportunities in international markets. The global fund aims to narrow the digital financing gap and assist women-led MSMEs in scaling their operations through digital trade.
NEPC was chosen to implement this initiative as one of only four Business Support Organisations (BSOs) out of more than 600 applicants across Africa. Nigeria was selected as one of the four beneficiary countries globally, alongside the Dominican Republic, Jordan, and Mongolia, due to its vibrant entrepreneurial environment and strong export potential. The WEIDE secretariat in Geneva received 67,000 applications from Nigerian women-owned export businesses, facilitated by NEPC, marking the highest number among the beneficiary countries. Following a rigorous multi-stage screening process, 146 enterprises emerged as the final beneficiaries of the grant scheme.
The beneficiaries represent a wide array of Nigeria’s non-oil export sectors, such as agro-processing, food and beverages, textiles and fashion, and other value-added export categories. Additionally, they have benefited from capacity-building programmes in Lagos and Abuja aimed at strengthening their competitiveness in international markets. The programme covers areas such as export readiness, digital trade, e-commerce, branding and marketing, business planning, financial management, market access strategies, and sustainability.
Ayeni emphasized that the programme aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda to promote non-oil exports, foster inclusive economic growth, and empower women economically. She reiterated NEPC’s commitment to collaborating with international and local partners to expand opportunities for Nigerian women-owned businesses and advance Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.