The Federal Government of Nigeria says supporting women-led enterprises is central to achieving Nigeria’s $1 trillion economic target and improving the country’s competitive position under the African Continental Free Trade Area. The position was presented at a high-level policy colloquium held in Abuja.
Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, said the forum focused on practical measures to expand access to finance and unlock wider market opportunities for female-led businesses. She described the continental trade pact as a major integration platform connecting more than 1.3 billion people within a market valued at over $3 trillion.
Oduwole stated that targeted support would enable women entrepreneurs to scale operations across African markets. She noted that improved financing, stronger institutional backing and easier market entry would stimulate industrial expansion, employment growth and higher trade volumes.
She added that empowering women-owned enterprises aligns with Nigeria’s broader plan to build a trillion-dollar economy through export growth, stronger industrial capacity and deeper participation in continental commerce.
John Enoh, Minister of State for Industry, said Nigeria’s influence within the AfCFTA framework would depend on developing industries that can manufacture and export competitively at scale. He acknowledged that women already play major roles in agriculture, retail, textiles and manufacturing but continue to face financing and market access constraints.
Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs, said trade policies must reflect gender considerations to maximise AfCFTA benefits and strengthen women’s enterprise participation. She confirmed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Women Affairs Nigeria and the Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment Nigeria to widen funding access for export-ready women entrepreneurs.
She said the partnership would provide export-readiness training, enhance digital trade capabilities and establish a national database of women-owned businesses.
Didi Walson-Jack, Head of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Nigeria, said women’s economic inclusion remains vital to Africa’s trade expansion and Nigeria’s long-term economic transformation.
Also speaking, Nura Rimi, Permanent Secretary of the industry ministry, said advancing women-led enterprises would strengthen Nigeria’s non-oil export base. Represented by Gertrude Orji, Director of Investment Promotion, he noted that the colloquium aimed to deepen collaboration among public institutions, investors and private sector stakeholders to improve support systems for women entrepreneurs and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness across African markets.
