Nigeria’s non-oil export sector recorded a historic performance in 2025, with total export value rising to $6.1 billion and market reach expanding to 210 countries, according to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).
The disclosure was made in Abuja by NEPC Executive Director, Nonye Ayeni, during a conference focused on strengthening women-led businesses for economic resilience and inclusive growth.
Ayeni described the achievement as the highest in Nigeria’s history, noting that the country also recorded an export volume of 8.02 million metric tonnes. She said Nigeria exported 281 different products across regions including Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania.
According to her, Nigeria’s export footprint now spans 36 African countries, including 11 within the Economic Community of West African States, reinforcing its growing role as a regional trade hub.
She attributed the growth to consistent policy support, targeted NEPC interventions, and the expanding contribution of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which account for about 96 percent of businesses in the country. Women, she added, make up roughly 40 percent of SME operators, placing them at the center of export diversification efforts.
Ayeni explained that the NEPC has strengthened support systems through capacity building, certification processes, and improved access to international markets, particularly for women exporters.
Also speaking, Special Adviser to the President on Export Expansion, Aliyu Sheriff, emphasized the need to prioritise women-led enterprises, describing them as critical drivers of economic transformation. He urged stakeholders to address barriers such as limited access to finance, digital tools, and global markets.
Meanwhile, Nichole Mensa, Special Assistant to the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, highlighted the growing influence of women-led businesses in Nigeria’s export ecosystem.
She noted that initiatives like Women Exporters in the Digital Economy are helping Nigerian entrepreneurs access global opportunities, adding that improved financial capacity and scaling strategies would further enhance their global competitiveness.
The milestone underscores Nigeria’s ongoing shift toward export diversification and reduced dependence on oil revenues.
