NEPC credits SMEs and women-led businesses for driving historic growth as Nigeria deepens its push to become a global trade hub….
Nigeria’s push to diversify its economy beyond crude oil is gaining momentum, with the country’s non-oil export sector delivering its strongest performance on record in 2025.
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council revealed that export value surged to an unprecedented $6.1 billion, while Nigerian goods reached 210 countries across multiple continents, underscoring the country’s expanding footprint in global trade.
Speaking at a conference in Abuja themed “Strengthening Women-led Businesses for Resilience, Recovery and Inclusive Economic Growth,” NEPC Executive Director Nonye Ayeni described the achievement as a major step forward in positioning Nigeria as a competitive trade hub.
According to her, Nigeria exported 281 different products spanning Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and Oceania. Within the African continent alone, Nigerian goods reached 36 countries, including 11 member states of the Economic Community of West African States.
“In 2025, Nigeria recorded the highest value of non-oil exports at $6.1 billion and the highest volume at 8.02 million metric tonnes. These are the highest in the country’s history,” Ayeni said.
She added that the figures reflect growing success in export diversification, with Nigerian products gaining traction across a wide range of international markets.
Much of this growth, she noted, has been powered by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which make up roughly 96% of businesses in Nigeria. Women, who account for about 40% of SME operators, are playing an increasingly central role in expanding the country’s export capacity.
To support this momentum, the NEPC has ramped up initiatives focused on capacity building, certification, and market access particularly targeting women entrepreneurs to help them meet global standards and scale their operations.
Also speaking at the event, the President’s Special Adviser on Export Expansion, Aliyu Sheriff, emphasized the need to place women-led enterprises at the heart of Nigeria’s trade strategy.
“Our women must not just participate in trade; they must compete, dominate and lead,” he said, calling for stronger efforts to remove barriers related to financing, digital access, and entry into international markets.
From the global perspective, World Trade Organization representative Nichole Mensa highlighted the growing influence of women-led businesses in Nigeria’s export ecosystem. She noted that despite persistent structural challenges, these enterprises are increasingly driving innovation, job creation, and cross-border trade.
Mensa pointed to initiatives such as the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy programme, which is helping Nigerian businesses tap into global opportunities through improved digital access and market integration.
She added that strengthening financial capacity and scaling strategies will be crucial in enabling women-owned enterprises to compete more effectively on the global stage.
With export volumes and values reaching record highs, the latest data signals a shift in Nigeria’s economic trajectory one where non-oil sectors are beginning to take a more prominent role in driving growth, resilience, and global competitiveness.
