The National Chamber of Commerce Industry, Mines and Agriculture has partnered with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) to strengthen regional integration, expand opportunities for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and facilitate cross-border agricultural trade. The collaboration was launched under the ECOWAS Agricultural Trade Programme at an event themed “Strengthening ECOWAS Agricultural Market to Drive Food Security and Regional Prosperity.”
NACCIMA President Jani Ibrahim highlighted agriculture’s pivotal role in Nigeria’s economy, noting that the sector contributed about 24.64 percent to GDP in Q4 2024, with early 2025 estimates placing it at roughly 27.8 percent following GDP rebasing. Despite this significant contribution and its role in sustaining millions of livelihoods, Ibrahim said Nigeria’s agricultural exports remain modest. He explained that the ECOWAS Agricultural Trade Project and NACCIMA’s involvement aim to address this gap by empowering traders and SMEs within the agribusiness value chain to meet regional market requirements.
The initiative aligns with NACCIMA’s mandate to support the private sector, foster enabling policies, and enhance export competitiveness. According to the association, the project will tackle longstanding bottlenecks that hinder trade, while building the capacity of businesses to navigate cross-border opportunities.
NACCIMA Director-General Sola Obadimu reiterated agriculture’s economic significance, noting that it supports millions of livelihoods, contributes about a quarter of Nigeria’s GDP, and remains under-leveraged in terms of export earnings. He highlighted the untapped potential within the ECOWAS region, home to over 400 million people, as a critical opportunity for Nigeria’s agribusiness sector to expand its footprint and strengthen regional trade.
For MSMEs, the collaboration offers prospects to scale operations, improve access to regional markets, and meet standards required for cross-border trade, potentially boosting revenue, job creation, and overall integration into West Africa’s agricultural economy.
