Nigeria Boosts Women Digital Exports with $50M Fund

The Federal Government on Thursday unveiled the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy Nigeria programme, a $50m initiative to equip women-led businesses with training, funding, and international market access.

Speaking at the launch in Abuja, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr Jumoke Oduwole said the initiative, jointly developed by the World Trade Organisation and the International Trade Centre, would empower Nigerian women entrepreneurs to compete globally in the digital economy.

She noted that out of over 67,000 Nigerian applicants, 146 women-led businesses were selected, the highest representation among the four pilot countries, including Jordan, Mongolia, the Dominican Republic, and Nigeria.

Oduwole said, “WEIDE is a global declaration that women must no longer be spectators in international trade but equal and proactive participants in today’s and tomorrow’s digital economy.”

The Minister said the Nigerian Export Promotion Council would lead implementation locally, adding that the scheme would “provide much-needed capital, expertise, and global networks to women-owned MSMEs.”

According to her, the 18-month support programme will boost economic inclusion, create jobs, and strengthen Nigeria’s position in digital trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

WTO Director-General, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said the fund would give women “the tools, the knowledge, the networks, and the resources they need to access global value chains, so their businesses are not just surviving but thriving.”

She disclosed that the awardees were split into two categories: the Booster Track, where 16 entrepreneurs will get up to $30,000 and intensive technical assistance, and the Discovery Track, where 130 entrepreneurs will receive up to $5,000 and one year of business support.

“These women represent the heartbeat of Nigeria’s entrepreneurial energy,” Okonjo-Iweala said, noting that sectors covered include fashion, tourism, agriculture, IT, furniture, beauty, and food processing.

She stressed that Africa’s share of the fastest-growing segment of digital trade, digitally delivered services, remains about 1 per cent and urged Nigeria to tap into the opportunity.

Okonjo-Iweala added, “Women who trade internationally earn, on average, 2.8 times more than those who sell locally. If you add the power of digital trade, the opportunities multiply even further.”

The WTO chief also challenged the country to address barriers such as poor internet penetration, high connectivity costs, and unreliable power supply, commending Nigeria’s planned $2bn fibre optic network as a step forward.

Oduwole urged the private sector, development finance institutions, and civil society to support WEIDE’s success, saying, “Women’s success in digital trade must be a shared national priority.”

She said the ministry would strengthen digital literacy, facilitate access to finance, and reduce trade bottlenecks through e-commerce platforms and better logistics.

The $50m fund is backed by the United Arab Emirates, the State of Qatar, and the FIFA–Qatar World Cup Legacy Fund.

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