• Super Admin
• 07 Mar, 2026

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to positioning women-led enterprises at the centre of Nigeria's industrial expansion and continental trade ambitions under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This commitment was highlighted at a colloquium held on Friday in Abuja, where government officials, policymakers and private sector leaders explored strategies to unlock opportunities for women-owned businesses within Africa's rapidly integrating market. The event, convened by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, focused on improving access to finance, expanding market opportunities and strengthening the competitiveness of Nigerian enterprises, particularly those led by women across the continent. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, described AfCFTA as one of the most transformative economic opportunities for Africa, linking more than 1.3 billion people within a market valued at over $3 trillion. She said Nigeria stands to gain significantly from the continental trade framework if women entrepreneurs are deliberately supported to expand their businesses beyond national borders. "This conversation is fundamentally about capital and opportunity. When women-led enterprises have access to finance, markets and the right institutional support, they become powerful engines of industrial growth, job creation and trade expansion," she said Speaking within the context of International Women's Day, the minister stressed that inclusive economic growth requires deliberate collaboration among government, investors and the private sector. According to her, expanding economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs is critical to Nigeria's ambition of building a $1 trillion economy through stronger exports, deeper industrial capacity and greater participation in continental trade. John Owan Enoh, Minister of State for Industry, described the current moment as a defining period for Nigeria's industrial growth within Africa. He noted that while AfCFTA has created the world's largest free trade area by number of participating countries, real gains would depend on the ability of African economies to build competitive industries capable of producing and exporting at scale. "Trade agreements alone do not industrialise nations. If Nigeria is to truly lead the AfCFTA, we must unlock the productive potential of women-led enterprises at scale," he added. Enoh observed that although women already play major roles in sectors such as agriculture, retail, textiles and manufacturing value chains, many women-led businesses still face structural barriers, particularly in accessing finance and new markets. In her remarks, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs, stressed that harnessing AfCFTA opportunities requires the integration of gender-responsive policies into Nigeria's trade framework. She highlighted the need for simplified business registration processes, improved documentation systems and more inclusive trade procedures to enable women entrepreneurs to formalise and expand their businesses. "We must remove the barriers that limit women's participation in trade and enterprise. Empowering women economically is not only a question of fairness; it is a strategic investment in Nigeria's prosperity," she said As part of efforts to strengthen support for women exporters, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at expanding access to finance for export-ready women entrepreneurs. The partnership will also support export readiness training, improve digital trade capacity and facilitate the development of a national database of women-owned enterprises. A representative of the Women's Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (WACCIMA) commended the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), describing it as a significant step toward addressing one of the major challenges faced by women-owned businesses, access to finance. The representative said the agreement would help remove financial barriers that have long limited the growth and expansion of many women-led enterprises. She noted that the chamber remains committed to supporting women entrepreneurs by creating opportunities that enable them to grow and scale their businesses. Source: https://businessday.ng/uncategorized/article/fg-positions-women-led-enterprises-to-tap-opportunities-under-afcfta/