NEPC Targets Women, Youths, Farmers In Fresh Push For Global Markets

For decades, Nigeria’s economic fortunes have been closely tied to crude oil, leaving the country vulnerable to fluctuations in global commodity prices and persistent pressure on foreign exchange earnings.

But beyond the oil wells and export terminals lies another economy with significant potential: one driven by agriculture, manufacturing, small businesses, digital commerce, skills and millions of entrepreneurs seeking access to markets beyond Nigeria.

At the centre of this emerging export story is the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), which is intensifying efforts to expand the country’s non-oil export base, with women, youths, farmers and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) increasingly positioned as critical players.

The Council, established in 1976 as the Federal Government’s apex institution for promoting non-oil exports, is pursuing a strategy that combines access to finance, capacity building, certification, market linkages, skills development and participation in international trade fairs.

The objective is straightforward: move more Nigerian products from local markets to global shelves while creating jobs, generating foreign exchange and supporting economic diversification.

One of the most significant components of this strategy is the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund, a $50m initiative launched in 2024 by the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to help women-led businesses in developing countries participate more effectively in international trade through digital tools.

Nigeria’s role in the initiative is particularly significant. The NEPC was selected as the only African Business Support Organisation to implement the WEIDE Fund, emerging from 610 applications globally.

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

From this pool, 146 women-led MSMEs were selected for grant support under the first phase.
The scale of participation offers a glimpse into the size of the entrepreneurial base seeking opportunities in international markets. It also demonstrates that the challenge facing many Nigerian businesses may not be a lack of entrepreneurial energy, but access to the capital, knowledge, standards and market connections required to compete globally.

The WEIDE Fund is structured around two grant categories. The Discovery Grant provides $5,000 to micro and small women-led enterprises with export potential, while the Booster Grant offers $30,000 to exporting or export-ready women-led businesses.

The support goes beyond simply handing businesses money.
Beneficiaries are required to undergo digital and financial training, coaching, business clinics and other learning programmes designed to improve their ability to operate in international markets.

The programme also supports the establishment of e-commerce stores, pricing models, logistics and customer service channels, while creating opportunities for businesses to connect with global e-commerce platforms and digital service providers.

This approach reflects a growing understanding of what it takes to turn an entrepreneurial venture into a sustainable export business.
A business may have a good product, but without appropriate certification, reliable logistics, digital visibility, competitive pricing and knowledge of export procedures, accessing foreign markets can remain difficult.

For Nigerian women entrepreneurs, many of whom operate within the MSME space, bridging these gaps could determine whether their businesses remain domestic enterprises or become exporters.

The Council’s intervention is, however, not limited to women.
Youths are also at the heart of its strategy to build a new generation of exporters.

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

The centre has been restructured and re-equipped to support mass production for African and international markets while also supplying Nigerian distributors and retailers.

Under a public-private partnership arrangement, the facility is being managed by Lelook Nigeria Limited, with the target of training at least 1,000 youths and women each year.
The thinking behind the programme extends beyond skills acquisition. By connecting vocational training to production and export markets, the initiative seeks to create a pipeline through which young Nigerians can move from acquiring skills to producing commercially viable goods and ultimately participating in international trade.

The Council is also working with federal, state and local governments and other stakeholders to replicate similar centres across the country. Such interventions are particularly relevant in an economy where youth unemployment and underemployment remain major concerns and where job creation requires more than conventional public-sector employment.

The export sector offers an opportunity to create jobs across an entire value chain—from farming and processing to packaging, transportation, certification, marketing and international distribution.

Another initiative, the Export Mentorship Programme, is designed to address a different challenge: the knowledge gap confronting prospective exporters.

Many new businesses struggle to navigate export documentation, international standards, market requirements, financing and the practical realities of dealing with foreign buyers.

The programme therefore pairs prospective exporters with experienced exporters for practical handholding.
The pilot programme began with five performing exporters serving as mentors and 20 prospective exporters as mentees. Fifteen mentees successfully completed the programme and were set for graduation.

The Council has also initiated discussions with commercial banks to explore financing support for mentees under the guidance of their mentors.

The broader objective is to increase the number of performing Nigerian exporters while reducing the risks associated with entering international trade.