The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) is stepping up efforts to expand Nigeria’s non-oil export base by helping women entrepreneurs, young people, farmers and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) gain access to international markets.

Nigeria’s economy has for decades depended heavily on crude oil, leaving foreign exchange earnings vulnerable to movements in global commodity prices. In response, the NEPC is placing agriculture, manufacturing, digital commerce, skills development and entrepreneurship at the heart of efforts to develop alternative sources of foreign exchange.

Established in 1976 as the Federal Government’s apex institution for promoting non-oil exports, the Council is combining financial access, capacity building, certification, market connections, skills training and international trade opportunities to help Nigerian businesses move beyond the domestic market.

The broader objective is to increase the presence of Nigerian-made products on international shelves while supporting job creation, foreign exchange generation and economic diversification.

A key part of the NEPC’s export strategy is its involvement in the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund, a $50 million programme launched in 2024 by World Trade Organization Director-General, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

The initiative is designed to help women-led enterprises in developing countries participate more effectively in international trade by improving access to digital tools, financing, skills and international markets.

Nigeria secured a notable position in the programme after the NEPC emerged as the only African Business Support Organisation selected to implement the WEIDE Fund from 610 applications received globally.

The Council subsequently recorded more than 68,000 applications from women-led businesses across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and across multiple sectors.

Following the selection exercise, 146 women-led MSMEs were picked to receive grants during the programme’s first phase.

The volume of applications reflects the number of Nigerian women entrepreneurs seeking to expand their businesses and reach international customers. It also exposes the financing, knowledge, standards and market-access challenges that continue to constrain the growth of many MSMEs.

The WEIDE Fund operates through two grant categories. The Discovery Grant provides $5,000 for micro and small women-led enterprises with export potential, while the Booster Grant offers $30,000 to women-led businesses that are already exporting or are export-ready.

Financial assistance is complemented by digital and financial training, coaching, business clinics and other capacity-building activities intended to prepare beneficiaries for international commerce.

Support areas include e-commerce stores, pricing, logistics and customer service. Beneficiaries are also linked with global e-commerce platforms and digital service providers.

Young Nigerians are another focus of the Council’s strategy to develop a new generation of exporters.

Through its Export Skills Acquisition Centre (ESAC) in Apapa, Lagos, the NEPC is targeting more than 1,000 young people and women every year for training in garment and bag production.

The centre has undergone restructuring and re-equipping to facilitate mass production for African and international markets, while also supplying Nigerian distributors and retailers.

Lelook Nigeria Limited operates the facility under a public-private partnership arrangement, with a target of training at least 1,000 youths and women annually.

The programme is designed to connect vocational skills with actual production and market opportunities, giving beneficiaries a route from training into commercial manufacturing and, ultimately, international trade.

The NEPC is also engaging federal, state and local governments, alongside other stakeholders, on plans to establish similar centres in other parts of the country.

Such programmes could provide additional avenues for tackling youth unemployment and underemployment by creating economic opportunities outside conventional public-sector jobs.

Export activities can create employment throughout the value chain, spanning farming, processing, packaging, transportation, certification, marketing and international distribution.

The Council is also tackling the knowledge challenges faced by businesses seeking to become exporters through its Export Mentorship Programme.

Prospective exporters often encounter difficulties with export documentation, international standards, financing, market requirements and the practical process of establishing relationships with overseas buyers.

Under the mentorship initiative, prospective exporters are paired with experienced exporters who provide practical guidance and support.

The pilot programme began with five performing exporters acting as mentors and 20 prospective exporters serving as mentees. Fifteen of the mentees successfully completed the programme and were scheduled for graduation.

The Council has also opened discussions with commercial banks about financing opportunities for mentees under the direction and guidance of their mentors.

Through the programme, the NEPC aims to increase the number of performing Nigerian exporters while reducing some of the risks associated with entering international markets.

Greater production capacity, however, does not by itself guarantee entry into international markets. Products must satisfy the quality, safety, and certification requirements imposed by their destination countries.

Addressing this issue, NEPC Executive Director/Chief Executive, Nonye Ayeni, said the Council introduced the Go Global Go Certification initiative to assist MSME exporters, food processors, agro-product exporters and manufacturers in meeting international market requirements.

According to Ayeni, certification can determine whether a Nigerian product gains acceptance or is rejected in a foreign market.

Through the initiative, more than 305 exporters have undergone international certification processes covering requirements including those of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and Halal certification.

Ayeni said certification was particularly significant for agricultural and processed food exporters because failure to satisfy safety and quality requirements can result in rejected shipments, financial losses and damage to business reputations.

For Nigerian MSMEs, the expanding emphasis on certification, digital commerce, financing, skills development and market access could help address barriers that have historically made it difficult for smaller businesses to enter export markets.

As the NEPC broadens these interventions, a key challenge will be ensuring that supported businesses remain sustainable, continue meeting international standards and establish long-term relationships with buyers outside Nigeria.

For an economy working to reduce its dependence on crude oil, the effectiveness of these initiatives will be important to converting Nigeria’s agricultural, manufacturing and creative potential into sustainable export earnings.

Source: MSME Africa Online