UK trade mission Nigerian women firms gain new export links as ITC and NEPC connect 30 businesses with UK buyers in Abuja
Efforts to expand women’s participation in global trade received a significant lift this week as the International Trade Centre and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council convened a United Kingdom funded trade mission in Abuja, connecting 30 Nigerian women led enterprises with 12 importers from the UK.
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The three day engagement, held from 18 to 20 November under the UK backed SheTrades Commonwealth Plus Programme, aims to unlock an estimated 32 million dollars in untapped export potential between both countries.
The mission focuses on agrifood and beauty products, sectors where Nigerian women entrepreneurs have shown strong competitiveness but limited access to formal export channels.
Speaking at the opening session, British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria Gill Lever OBE reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to broadening market access for women owned businesses.
She said the progress recorded so far, including more than 300,000 dollars in confirmed sales, demonstrates the powerful results that can emerge when opportunities are deliberately opened to women in trade.
Gill Lever added that the initiative complements the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme, which provides duty free and quota free access for at least 92 per cent of Nigerian products entering the British market.
NEPC Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Nonye Ayeni described women as central to Nigeria’s non oil export ambitions.
She said the mission supports the council’s strategy to integrate women led businesses into high value global supply chains and highlighted the resilience and determination that characterise many of the participating entrepreneurs.
ITC Programme Manager for SheTrades Commonwealth Plus Michelle Kristy said interest from UK buyers in Nigerian agrifood and beauty products is strong.
She noted that the Abuja mission is designed to build meaningful business relationships and provide a platform for women to secure long term export opportunities.
The mission follows a series of earlier engagements, including Nigeria’s participation at Halal Expo Manchester and multiple business to business meetings in the UK, which collectively generated more than 300,000 dollars in new sales and leads across key product categories.
Beyond export linkages, the International Trade Centre is working with Nigeria’s Bureau of Public Procurement and the UN CEDAW Committee to finalise an affirmative procurement framework that will expand access to public tenders for women, young people, persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups.
Between 2024 and 2025, the SheTrades Commonwealth Plus Programme has trained more than 1,000 Nigerian women entrepreneurs in branding, digital marketing and export readiness.
It has also supported shea product manufacturers in meeting certification and audit requirements and showcased 75 women led brands during the HerShowcase exhibition in Abuja.
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The Nigerian Export Promotion Council continues to host the SheTrades Nigeria Hub, which provides advisory services, capacity building and market linkages for women owned businesses across the country.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
