The Executive Director and CEO of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nonye Ayeni, has revealed 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 known at the HER-SHOWCASE: Trade Beyond Borders event, organized in partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC) in Abuja.
Citing a 2024 PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report, she emphasized the critical role of women entrepreneurs in the non-oil export sector.
“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,” Ayeni said.
She stressed the need to empower SMEs, particularly women-led enterprises, to leverage technology and globalization.
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According to her, digital trade platforms and e-commerce are key drivers of sustainable economic growth, and NEPC is committed to supporting women entrepreneurs through various programs and partnerships.
Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, also spoke at the event, highlighting Africa’s evolving trade landscape.
She noted that the conversation on gender and trade has shifted from simply granting women a seat at the table to recognizing them as key agents of change in the sector.
“Women are not just participants but key players—acting as consumers, producers, distributors, and decision-makers across the value chain,” Oduwole stated.