Nigeria’s non-oil exports hit $6.1bn, reach 210 markets

•Bets on women-led SMEs for inclusive growth

By Progress Godfrey

Nigeria’s non-oil export sector recorded a historic milestone in 2025, with export value hitting $6.1 billion and market reach expanding to 210 countries, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, has disclosed.

Executive Director of NEPC, Nonye Ayeni, who made this known in Abuja at a conference themed “Strengthening Women-led Businesses for Resilience, Recovery and Inclusive Economic Growth,” said the performance underscores Nigeria’s growing capacity as a regional and global trade hub.

According to her, the country exported 281 products across Africa, Asia, America, Europe and Oceania, noting that Nigeria’s footprint spans 36 African countries, including 11 within ECOWAS.

She said: “In 2025, Nigeria recorded the highest value of non-oil exports at $6.1 billion and the highest volume at 8.02 million metric tonnes. These are the highest in the country’s history since the Council was established.

“Nigeria has what it takes to serve as a trade hub within ECOWAS, Africa and beyond. Our export diversification is gaining traction across multiple markets.”

Ayeni attributed the growth to sustained policy support, NEPC interventions and the critical role of Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs, which account for about 96 per cent of businesses in the country. She added that women represent roughly 40 per cent of SME operators, making them central to export expansion and inclusive growth.

She explained that NEPC has intensified support through capacity building, certification processes, market access initiatives and targeted programmes for women exporters, enabling improved compliance with international standards.

Special Adviser to the President on Export Expansion, Aliyu Sheriff, stressed the need to prioritise women-led enterprises, describing them as key to economic transformation.

“Our women must not just participate in trade; they must compete, dominate and lead,” he said, urging stakeholders to address barriers to finance, digital tools and market access.

Also speaking, Special Assistant to the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, WTO, Nichole Mensa, said women-led businesses in Nigeria are increasingly driving innovation, job creation and export growth despite structural challenges.

She highlighted the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy initiative, which supports access to global markets, noting that Nigeria is among selected countries benefiting from the programme.

Mensa added that strengthening financial capacity and scaling strategies would enable women-owned businesses to compete globally and sustain growth.

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