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NEPC Doles Out N979m Grant To 128 Women-owned Businesses

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, has doled out $710,000, approximately N979.8 million grant to 128 women-owned export-oriented Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs.

Executive Director/CEO of NEPC, Mrs Nonye Ayeni noted in Abuja that 121 Nigerian women-owned businesses had received discovery grants valued at $5,000 each, while seven businesses had been awarded booster grants valued at $15,000 each.

She pointed out that the fund was a joint initiative of the International Trade Centre, ITC, and the World Trade Organization, WTO, with financial support from international partners.

The initiative seeks to enhance the competitiveness of women-led businesses by providing access to finance, business development support, digital skills and international market opportunities.

She said: “The global fund aims to bridge the digital financing gap and help women-led MSMEs scale their businesses through digital trade.”

Ayeni noted that NEPC was selected to implement the initiative as one of only four Business Support Organisations, BSOs, from more than 600 appliancants across the African continent.

She informed that Nigeria was chosen as one of only four benefitting countries globally, alongside the Dominican Republic, Jordan and Mongolia, due to its vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem and strong export potential.

“The WEIDE secretariat in Geneva received 67,000 applications from Nigerian women-owned export businesses, facilitated by NEPC, which is the highest among the four beneficiary countries.

“After a rigorous and multi-stage screening,146 enterprises emerged as the final beneficiaries of the grant scheme,” she added.

The beneficiaries represent a broad range of Nigeria’s non-oil export sector, including agro-processing, food and beverages, textiles and fashion, and other value-added export categories.

Ayeni informed that the beneficiaries also benefited from capacity-building programmes in Lagos and Abuja, designed to strengthen their competitiveness in international markets.

The programme covers export readiness, digital trade, e-commerce, branding and marketing, business planning, financial management, market access strategies, and sustainability.

It also aligned with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda to promote non-oil exports, inclusive economic growth and women’s economic empowerment.

The NEPC CEO promised to work with international and local partners to expand opportunities for Nigerian women-owned businesses and promote Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.

 

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