By Vivian Emoni
Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) says its project will support 200 Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), with women and under-represented groups accounting for 67 per cent.
The ACCI President, Chief Emeka Obegolu, disclosed this while inaugurating the Trade for Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth (TRISEG) project and its Stakeholders Workshop, on Thursday in Abuja.
Obegolu said that the project would strengthen the SMEs, by improving productivity, competitiveness, resilience, access to larger markets and trade institutions to compete internationally.
According to him, the project also featured a stakeholder validation workshop on Nigeria’s Export Market Analysis and Institutional Capacity Assessment.
“The initiative will strengthen institutions supporting businesses while helping enterprises compete in local, regional and international markets.
“The project will directly target 200 Nigerian SMEs, with 67 per cent owned or led by women and under-represented groups,” he said
The ACCI president noted that the TRISEG was funded by the Canadian Government through Global Affairs Canada and implemented by Trade Facilitation Office Canada (TFO Canada).
He said the five-year programme, running from 2025 to 2030 across 16 developing countries, would strengthen Trade Support Institutions and enable SMEs to overcome growth barriers.
He said that Nigerian SMEs had significant potential to compete internationally but continued to face practical constraints requiring targeted interventions.
He said the TRISEG would strengthen Trade Support Institutions to deliver more inclusive and gender-responsive services to businesses.
Obegolu said the project’s Climate Resilience Fund would provide technical assistance, digital resources, training and investment plans supporting environmental sustainability.
He urged stakeholders to use the validation workshop to identify barriers, financing gaps, digitalisation opportunities and support required by women-owned businesses.
He said that the ACCI remained committed to providing the institutional platform needed to ensure the successful implementation of the TRISEG and create tangible opportunities for Nigerian businesses.
Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Minister, Industry, Trade and Investment, said the ministry remained committed to partnering with the ACCI and supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s trade sector.
Oduwole said the workshop provided an opportunity to examine findings from the export market analysis and institutional capacity assessment and ensure they reflected Nigeria’s trade realities.
She said that expanding trade was not only about increasing export volumes but also building productive capacity, meeting international standards, reducing trade costs and strengthening institutions.
She said the ministry had continued efforts to support businesses through African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) implementation, the Nigeria-East Southern Africa Air Cargo Corridor and improved trade information platforms.
She said particular attention should be given to the MSMEs, women-owned businesses and underserved enterprises facing challenges in accessing finance, technology, certification, logistics and international markets.
She said the assessment should provide evidence for strengthening inter-agency coordination, improving trade support services and designing interventions that would enhance market access, export readiness and competitiveness.
Oduwole urged participants to provide evidence, challenge assumptions and speak openly, adding that the success of the initiative would depend on translating recommendations into measurable improvements for businesses.
Dr Chris Isokpunwu, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, represented the minister.
Mr Arash Irantalab, Councillor and Head of Development Cooperation, High Commission of Canada, said Nigeria was demonstrating remarkable entrepreneurial energy and innovation, with businesses developing products, funding creative solutions and creating livelihoods.
Irantalab said that the SMEs were central to Nigeria’s economic vision, noting that improved competitiveness, market access and business growth could create jobs and strengthen household incomes.
Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr Bashir Adeniyi, commended the chamber and its partners for organising the workshop aimed at strengthening SMEs and promoting inclusive economic growth.
Adeniyi, represented by Mr Abubakar Yazeed, said that the service supported initiatives facilitating legitimate trade, improving market access and simplifying export processes to advance Nigeria’s export development.
Also, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, commended the ACCI, for convening the engagement on export market analysis and institutional capacity assessment under the TRISEC initiative.
Adeyeye, represented by Mrs Kadiri Haleemat, Chief Regulatory Officer, said sustained export growth required stronger production capacity, effective institutions, appropriate standards, reliable laboratories, efficient certification and accurate market intelligence.(NAN)(NAN)
VOE/FEO
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Edited by Francis Onyeukwu
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