…as WTC Abuja, partners push exporters to close gaps, access global markets
Nigeria’s record $6.1 billion non-oil export performance in 2025 has triggered a fresh push by trade-support institutions and financial sector players to equip businesses with the capacity, standards and market access required to compete sustainably in international markets.
The World Trade Center (WTC) Abuja, in partnership with Zenith Bank Plc and other stakeholders, made the call at the Export Launchpad Bootcamp held in Abuja, where businesses across different sectors were brought together to strengthen their export readiness and improve their access to global markets.
Karim Adelaja Ahmed, Vice President of WTC Abuja, said the initiative was designed to help Nigerian businesses move beyond export ambition to actual export execution, noting that the country already has significant opportunities across agriculture, manufacturing, technology, creative industries and professional services.
Ahmed said Nigeria exported 281 non-oil products to 120 countries in 2025, describing the performance as evidence that Nigerian products and services already have demand in international markets.
He, however, said the major challenge was no longer whether Nigeria had products capable of competing globally, but whether businesses possessed the knowledge, systems, standards and consistency required to enter foreign markets successfully and remain competitive.
“The question, therefore, is not whether Nigeria has products and services that the world wants. Clearly, we do.
The more important question is whether our businesses have the knowledge, systems, standards and consistency required to enter those markets successfully and remain competitive.
Having a good product or service is only the beginning.
“Businesses must understand which markets to enter, how to position their offerings, the standards and certifications required, how to manage logistics and documentation, how to secure payment, and how to deliver consistently and profitably,” Ahmed said.
He stressed that exporters must understand their target markets, properly position their products, meet applicable standards and certification requirements, manage logistics and documentation, secure payment and maintain consistent and profitable delivery.
He said the Export Launchpad was therefore structured as a practical programme to help businesses assess their export readiness, identify viable markets, understand international trade processes and develop clear strategies for sustainable export growth.
Ahmed added that the programme was also intended to create valuable business connections among exporters, buyers, financial institutions, logistics providers, regulators, professional advisers and other players in the export ecosystem.
According to him, the success of the initiative would not be measured by the number of participants or presentations delivered during the bootcamp, but by the number of businesses that subsequently close their readiness gaps, secure necessary certifications, identify credible buyers, enter new markets and complete successful export transactions.
“Our intention is not merely to discuss exporting. It is to help build exporters,” he said.
The WTC Abuja executive explained that the programme draws on the World Trade Centers Association’s Deep Dive Global Series, while adapting its approach to the Nigerian business environment and the specific challenges confronting local businesses seeking to participate in international trade.
He urged participants to leave the bootcamp with a clear understanding of what their businesses needed to do next to become export-ready or improve their performance in existing export markets.
Also speaking at the event, a representative of Zenith Bank Plc, said the financial institution remained committed to supporting Nigerian exporters across the entire export value chain.
The representative said the bank had consistently identified with exporters because of the importance of expanding Nigeria’s export profile, adding that Zenith Bank was currently a leading financial institution in the country’s export business.
According to him, the bank controls about 40 percent of Nigeria’s NXP issuance, an indication of its significant role in facilitating export transactions.
He, however, said the bank was not satisfied with its current level of support and was seeking additional ways to help businesses overcome the barriers limiting their participation in international trade.
“We are not satisfied because, like WTC talked about earlier, we can all do a lot better. So even as a bank, we know that we can do better,” he said.
