NEPC SECURES $710,000 GRANTS FOR 128 WOMEN-LED EXPORT BUSINESSES

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has facilitated the disbursement of $710,000 (approximately N979.8 million) in grants to 128 women-owned export-focused Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to strengthen non-oil exports and enhance women’s participation in global digital trade.

The grants were awarded under the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund, an international initiative aimed at helping women entrepreneurs embrace digital technologies, improve export competitiveness, and access global markets.

The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NEPC, Nonye Ayeni, announced the development during a town hall meeting with exporters, according to a statement issued on Thursday by the Council’s Deputy Director and Head of Corporate Communications, Aliu Seidu Sadiq.

Ayeni disclosed that 121 women-owned businesses received Discovery Grants of $5,000 each, while seven enterprises were awarded Booster Grants worth $15,000 each, bringing the total disbursement to $710,000.

She attributed the achievement to Nigeria’s selection as one of only four countries worldwide chosen to participate in the pilot phase of the WEIDE Fund.

According to her, Nigeria earned the opportunity because of its strong entrepreneurial ecosystem, export potential, and commitment to promoting women’s participation in international trade.

Ayeni also revealed that the WEIDE Secretariat in Geneva received 67,000 applications from Nigerian women-owned export businesses through the NEPC—the highest number among the four beneficiary countries, which include the Dominican Republic, Jordan, and Mongolia.

She described the overwhelming response as evidence of the growing capacity and global ambitions of Nigerian women entrepreneurs.

Following a rigorous and transparent selection process, 128 beneficiaries emerged from thousands of applicants.

The successful businesses operate in various non-oil export sectors, including agro-processing, food and beverages, textiles and fashion, cosmetics, manufacturing, creative industries, and other value-added export businesses.

Beyond the financial support, the beneficiaries also participated in intensive training programmes held in Lagos and Abuja, covering export readiness, digital trade, e-commerce, branding, financial management, market access, sustainability, and the use of digital platforms to expand export sales.

Ayeni said the combination of funding and capacity building is expected to promote long-term business growth, increase export competitiveness, create jobs, and strengthen the participation of women-owned businesses in regional and global trade.

The WEIDE Fund is a joint initiative of the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), supported financially by the United Arab Emirates, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Legacy Fund, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The $50 million global fund was established to bridge the financing gap facing women-led MSMEs by providing access to funding, business development services, digital skills, and international market opportunities.

The NEPC reaffirmed its commitment to working with local and international partners to create more opportunities for women entrepreneurs and accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.