OYO, NEPC, CUSTOMS MOBILISE WOMEN SMES FOR GLOBAL EXPORT COMPETITIVENESS

The Oyo State Government, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Nigeria Customs Service have joined forces to prepare women-led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for greater participation in international markets.

The initiative is aimed at equipping female entrepreneurs with the knowledge and support required to meet export standards, access global markets and expand their businesses beyond Nigeria.

Women-owned businesses play an important role in Nigeria's economy, particularly in agriculture, food processing, fashion, beauty, crafts and other sectors with significant export potential. However, many small businesses struggle to compete internationally because of limited access to finance, inadequate market information, regulatory challenges and difficulties meeting international quality requirements.

By bringing together government institutions responsible for trade promotion and customs administration, the programme seeks to address some of these barriers and improve the readiness of women entrepreneurs for cross-border trade.

The NEPC plays a key role in promoting non-oil exports and helping Nigerian businesses identify opportunities in international markets. The Nigeria Customs Service, on the other hand, is central to facilitating the movement of goods across borders and ensuring compliance with relevant trade regulations.

For participating entrepreneurs, improved understanding of export procedures, documentation, product standards and market requirements could open new opportunities for business growth.

The collaboration also aligns with broader efforts to diversify Nigeria's economy through non-oil exports and strengthen the contribution of small businesses to national development.

However, sustained access to funding, infrastructure, technical support and reliable export networks will be essential to translating the initiative into measurable results.

The programme offers an opportunity to strengthen women-led enterprises and position more Nigerian products for international recognition.