By Vivian Emoni
The Federal Government says trade fairs should move beyond exhibition to facilitate transactions, partnerships, investments and market access for Nigerian businesses.
Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, said this at the opening ceremony of the 21st Abuja International Trade Fair, on Tuesday in Abuja,
The fair was organised by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), with the theme: “Resilience, Trade, Taxation and the Economy.”
Oduwole said the theme was timely; adding that resilience meant more than surviving difficult economic periods.
According to her, business resilience requires the capacity to compete, adapt, invest, expand into new markets and create jobs in spite of changing operating conditions.
“The fair should connect businesses with buyers, manufacturers with markets, and entrepreneurs with finance and investors.
“The success of a trade fair should be measured by partnerships formed, contracts signed, investments unlocked, markets entered and jobs created,’’ she said.
The minister said the Federal Government’s approach under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda was to create an economy where enterprises could thrive and compete.
“The private sector must remain the engine of growth, while government creates an enabling environment for businesses,” she added.
She said that government would continue improving the business environment, strengthening infrastructure and reducing unnecessary barriers to trade, investment and industrial development.
Oduwole emphasised the importance of collaboration among governments, the private sector and development partners in building Nigeria’s targeted one-trillion-dollar economy.
She said the government was engaging businesses to understand existing challenges and work collaboratively towards removing barriers affecting their operations.
The minister said micro, small and medium enterprises remained central to the government’s economic agenda, noting that their contributions to production, innovation and employment.
She said government was working to help businesses move from survival to sustainability, scale production, access wider markets and compete across borders.
“Government is improving access to finance, standards, technology, information and markets to strengthen the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses,” she said.
She said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFT), offered Nigerian businesses opportunities to reach customers across Africa, provided they met standards and moved goods efficiently.
Oduwole urged exhibitors to use the trade fair to meet buyers, identify distributors, explore export markets, build partnerships and convert discussions into transactions.
She reiterated government `s commitment to creating an enabling environment for businesses to compete, invest, expand and contribute to economic growth.
The ACCI, president, Chief Emeka Obegolu, said the fair remained a platform for enterprise, innovation, productivity and business resilience.
Obegolu said this year’s edition would bring businesses closer to markets, consumers and investment opportunities, in spite challenges including inflation, infrastructure gaps, high operating costs and changing regulations.
“Nigerian entrepreneurs, manufacturers, farmers, service providers and innovators had continued to adapt, invest, create jobs and explore new markets in spite the challenging business environment.
“Resilience should be supported by policies that encouraged production, rewarded innovation, simplified compliance and improved the competitiveness of businesses,’’ he said.
The ACCI president said the trade fair would feature no fewer than 500 exhibitors and over 10,000 products and services, attracting nearly 100,000 visitors during its 12-day span.
According to him, the fair will provide opportunities for business-to-business and business-to-government engagements, product exhibitions, investment networking, policy discussions, cultural activities and consumer interaction.
He called for continued consultation between government and the organised private sector, alongside improved infrastructure, access to affordable finance, simplified procedures and stronger support for local manufacturing.
Obegolu said the ACCI would continue to support the business community and promote partnerships capable of strengthening Nigeria’s productive capacity, investment opportunities and economic development.
Mr Jani Ibrahim, President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), represented by the Director-General, Dr Emmanuel Akeh, commended ACCI for sustaining the fair.
Ibrahim said the fair had provided businesses opportunities to showcase products, develop partnerships, assess markets and engage directly with policymakers and other stakeholders.
He said that Nigeria’s Gross Demotic Product (GDP) grew by 3.89 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, while the non-oil sector accounted for 96.08 per cent.
He said the manufacturing sector grew by 3.29 per cent, while trade expanded by 2.08 per cent, adding that taxation should support, rather than constrain business growth. (NAN)
VOE/KUA
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Edited by Uche Anunne
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