- World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will launch the Women Exporter in Digital Economy (WEIDE) grant in Abuja on Thursday
- The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) will implement the programme in Nigeria
- NEPC is one of only four Business Support Organisations in the world — and the only one from Africa chosen to take part in the first stage of the programme
The Women Exporter in Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund is to be used in facilitating women-owned businesses to engage more fully in international digital trade. Nigeria, selected as a pilot beneficiary, is to roll out the programme with NEPC, which was also selected together with only three other organisations in the world. The programme was initially unveiled by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in February 2024.
Emphasizing NEPC's continuous efforts to empower female exporters, Executive Director Nonye Ayeni added that more than 100 businesses owned by women have already undergone training to boost the quantity and quality of spice and herb exports through aggregation centres. These centres simplify the supply chain and link producers with domestic and foreign markets.
Ayeni also indicated that the programme is aligned with President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda that centers on mainstreaming women and youths in the export ecosystem. She also cited a recent NEPC forum whose objective was to assist women-owned businesses in taking advantage of opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
