The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nonye Ayeni, has disclosed that Nigeria recorded its highest-ever non-oil export value of $6.1 billion and a volume of 8.02 million metric tonnes in 2025.
Ayeni made this known at the Women Exporters Conference held at the NEPC Auditorium in Maitama, Abuja, on April 28, 2026.
She described the achievement as the highest since the establishment of the council, noting that it reflects growing momentum in Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.
According to her, “the future of commerce will not belong to those who wait, but those who innovate and take advantage of opportunities.”
Speaking on the theme, “Strengthening Women-led Businesses for Resilience, Recovery and Inclusive Economic Growth,” Ayeni emphasized that non-oil exports remain central to Nigeria’s economic diversification, particularly for a country long dependent on oil revenues.
She noted that although global merchandise exports stood at about $24.5 trillion in 2024, Africa accounted for just 3.5 percent, while Nigeria contributed only 0.26 percent—highlighting significant untapped potential.
Ayeni revealed that Nigeria exported 281 distinct products to 210 countries in 2025, including 36 African nations, positioning the country as a potential trade hub within the region and beyond.
She attributed the growth to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as policy support from the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the resilience of exporters, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
The NEPC boss said SMEs account for about 96 percent of businesses in Nigeria, with women making up nearly 40 percent. She stressed that women-led enterprises are vital to job creation, income generation, and overall economic development.
Highlighting the Council’s interventions, Ayeni disclosed that NEPC conducted 728 capacity-building programmes in 2025, impacting over 97,000 people across the export value chain. She added that 210 international certifications were provided, with about 50 percent going to women entrepreneurs.
She further noted that initiatives such as the Women in Export Development Programme and the SheTrades Nigeria Hub—implemented in partnership with the International Trade Centre—have enhanced access to markets, training, and trade opportunities for women.
Ayeni also referenced the $50 million Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund launched by the World Trade Organization and ITC. She said NEPC was selected as one of only four implementing agencies globally, with 146 Nigerian women benefiting from training, mentorship, and grants after a rigorous selection process involving over 67,000 applicants.
A representative of the WTO at the event said women entrepreneurs across Africa remain under-recognised and under-supported despite their contributions to economic growth. The official called for improved financial discipline, better visibility of women-led businesses, and stronger institutional support to help them scale globally.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the President on Export Expansion, Aliyu Sherrif, described women entrepreneurs as a powerful force for national transformation.
He urged stakeholders to dismantle barriers limiting access to finance, markets, and digital tools, stressing that inclusive growth depends on empowering women-led businesses.
The conference brought together government officials, development partners, financial institutions, and industry leaders to explore strategies for boosting women’s participation in export trade and strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global market.