By Fatima Saka
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria, through its HerAfCFTA forum, has empowered Nigerian women-led Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with skills for continental trade opportunities.
The event took place on Thursday in Abuja under the theme: “Empowering Women-Led MSMEs for Continental Trade Opportunities.”
The HerAfCFTA initiative addresses critical areas such as capacity building, access to markets, trade facilitation, business networking, investment opportunities, and digitalization for women-owned MSMEs in Nigeria.
UNDP’s Renewed Focus on Africa
In her opening remarks, Ms. Elsie G. Attafuah, Resident Representative of UNDP Nigeria, emphasized that the initiative aligns with UNDP’s strategic focus on leveraging intra-African trade as a key mechanism for poverty reduction, job creation, and foreign exchange generation.
The country resident representative, represented by Mr. Tony Muhumuza, Senior Economist Advisor at UNDP Nigeria highlighted the importance of collective efforts to ensure a prosperous future for women in the unified African market.
“The initiative stems from UNDP’s commitment to leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to unlock opportunities for women and contribute to Africa’s economic growth,” said Ms. Attafuah.
She outlined key components such as market intelligence, capacity building on AfCFTA protocols, access to finance, product branding, quality standards, and export documentation.
Supporting Women in Trade
Dr. Weyinmi Eribo, Director-General of the Women Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (WCCIMA), shared progress updates. She encouraged women entrepreneurs to leverage larger networks and chambers of commerce, ensuring they are not left behind in the trade ecosystem.
“We are helping businesses connect to opportunities and facilitating free promotions abroad. Our goal is to create targeted promotions that have real impact in foreign markets,” she said.
Dr. Eribo urged participants to actively engage and ask questions, stating, “Don’t leave this forum feeling empty. Absorb the information, connect with us, and let’s work together to address challenges.”
Inclusive Trade Opportunities
Olusegun Olutayo, Senior Trade Expert at the Nigerian AfCFTA Coordination Office, stressed that the initiative benefits all Nigerians, regardless of their role in the economy—whether as MSME owners, farmers, youth, or large-scale manufacturers.
“AfCFTA offers immense opportunities for job creation, industrialization, and policy alignment. It’s not just a trade agreement; it’s a framework with protocols that drive economic growth,” he explained.
Mr. Olutayo also underscored the importance of understanding the AfCFTA protocols, including intellectual property rights, to fully leverage its benefits.
Strategic Market Intelligence for MSME Growth
Ms. Gladys Kinyua, a consultant specializing in market intelligence, highlighted the vital role of Nigerian MSMEs in the economy, which account for over 50% of the country’s GDP and 80% of employment.
“Key sectors like agriculture, ICT, manufacturing, and retail are central to Nigeria’s economic diversification and export growth,” she noted.
She outlined the opportunities in Southern and Eastern Africa for MSMEs, particularly in agriculture, cosmetics, textiles, and fashion, emphasizing the need for actionable market intelligence to expand trade under AfCFTA.
Distinct News report that the HerAfCFTA forum demonstrated UNDP’s commitment to empowering women-led MSMEs and fostering inclusive trade across Africa.
Participants were also encouraged to capitalize on the opportunities presented by AfCFTA and to engage actively in shaping Nigeria’s economic future.
