NEPC trains over 8,000 women entrepreneurs on digitalisation, others

Folashade Adeniran
Mar, Wed, 2025

General News

NEPC trains over 8,000 women entrepreneurs on digitalisation, others

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By Vivian Emoni

The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has trained and supported no fewer than 8,000 women entrepreneurs on digitalisation, packaging, labeling among others, from 2019 till date, to boost trade.

Mrs Nonye Ayeni, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the council, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja, at the Hershowcase Event, with the theme: “Trade Beyond Borders”.

The programme was organised by NEPC in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC).

Ayeni said the event was designed to facilitate business networking, market connections and product exhibitions for Women-Led Businesses.

She said the council supported women-led businesses with certifications to enable them access different markets.

“The council supported women-led businesses through various other initiatives, which include capacity building programmes to enhance their export readiness and competitiveness.

“These programmes focus on various topics including; export procedure and documentation, export market strategy, packaging, labeling, branding, as well as digitalisation and e-commerce.

“The NEPC has trained and supported over 8,000 women entrepreneurs from 2019 till date.

“Under this initiative, about 125 women have been sponsored to acquire certifications, such as Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and ISO 22000 free of charge,’’she said.

The director-general said the council had been selected as one of the Business Support Organisations (BSO) to implement phase one of the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) project.

She said that the development was as a result of the inauguration of the World Trade Organisation/International Trade Centre, WTO/ITC, WEIDE Fund project in February 2024.

“Only four BSOs were selected out of 600 that applied and NEPC was selected to represent Nigeria as the only African country on the list.

“This is great news for the country and for our women as the WEIDE Fund,”she said.

Ayeni said that the project aimed to support women entrepreneurs in developing and least-developed countries to adopt digital technologies and expand the online presence of their enterprises.

She said that Nigeria joined the ITC SheTrades Initiative in 2016 and pledged to support the UN goal of connecting three million women worldwide to the global market by 2021.

She added that the council, as the SheTrade Hub in Nigeria, worked assiduously in partnership with ITC and other relevant agencies and institutions.

According to her, under the partnership with ITC for the SheTrades Initiative, over 5,000 Nigerian women have registered from 2018 till date.

She said in the next two days, women led-businesses would have the opportunity to connect with industry leaders, share experiences with fellow women entrepreneurs and showcase their innovative products and services.

Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, said that government recognised the importance of women as a vital strategic pillar of the economy.

Oduwole said that women had always been at the heart of Africa’s economic activity from carrying goods across borders to managing businesses and producing high-value products for export.

She said that the SheTrades Nigeria was established to break down any barriers and empower Nigerian women to thrive in trade.

“SheTrades provides women entrepreneurs and producers with access to key knowledge, resources and networks, support policymakers on inclusive policy reforms, leverage public, private partnerships to amplify the impact of our work,’’ she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Remi Koleoso/Vivian Ihechu

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