Nigeria’s drive to expand women’s participation in international trade gathered significant traction in Abuja this week as a UK-funded trade mission connected women-led enterprises with importers from the United Kingdom. The engagement, organised through a partnership between an international trade agency and the Nigerian export promotion authority, brought together thirty Nigerian women-owned agrifood and beauty businesses and twelve UK buyers in a bid to tap into an estimated thirty-two million dollars’ worth of unrealised export potential.
The mission forms part of a wider programme supported by the UK government to help women entrepreneurs across Commonwealth countries gain access to global markets. Over three days, participants explored market requirements, product standards, logistics opportunities and potential supply agreements in two sectors where Nigerian women have demonstrated strong capacity but limited formal export entry.
At the opening session, a senior UK representative reaffirmed the country’s commitment to strengthening market access for Nigerian women, noting that early records from the programme show over three hundred thousand dollars in confirmed sales and leads. The representative said the initiative builds on the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme, which already grants extensive duty-free access to Nigerian exporters and positions women-led businesses for stronger commercial gains.
The head of Nigeria’s export promotion agency emphasised that women remain essential to driving the growth of non-oil exports. According to her, the mission aligns with the agency’s ongoing efforts to widen Nigeria’s export base by integrating women more deeply into high-value markets where demand is rising for uniquely African agrifood and beauty products.
A senior programme manager from the international trade agency said the interest from UK buyers reflects a growing appetite for Nigerian-made products that meet global standards. She explained that the trade mission is designed to build pathways for long-term partnerships, enabling women entrepreneurs to expand their capacity, strengthen their brands, and scale sales in strategic markets. She added that the engagement follows earlier activities this year involving Nigerian women-owned firms at exhibitions and business-to-business meetings in the UK, which generated substantial commercial leads.
Beyond market linkages, the international trade agency is working with national institutions to shape a more inclusive procurement framework that supports women, young people, and other marginalised groups. Between 2024 and 2025, the SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme has trained more than one thousand Nigerian women in branding, digital positioning, and export readiness, while also supporting manufacturers in meeting certification requirements. The programme has hosted exhibitions showcasing dozens of women-led brands, and the export council continues to provide advisory support through the SheTrades Nigeria Hub.
For MSMEs across Africa, the Abuja mission highlights the growing importance of trade facilitation programmes that open pathways for small firms to scale beyond domestic markets. Stronger export linkages mean better access to foreign revenue, exposure to global buyers, and increased investment in production capacity. As trade corridors widen and technical support deepens, women-led MSMEs are positioned to play a greater role in shaping Africa’s export competitiveness and driving inclusive economic growth.
