Nigeria’s non-oil export sector reached a record high in 2025, with total export value rising to $6.1 billion and market access extending to 210 countries, according to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.
The agency’s Executive Director, Nonye Ayeni, disclosed the figures in Abuja during a conference themed “Strengthening Women-led Businesses for Resilience, Recovery and Inclusive Economic Growth.” She said the achievement highlights Nigeria’s increasing role as a regional and global trade hub.
Ayeni noted that Nigeria exported 281 products across Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and Oceania, reaching 36 African countries, including 11 within the Economic Community of West African States.
“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—both the highest since the Council was established,” she said. “Nigeria has the capacity to serve as a trade hub within ECOWAS, Africa, and beyond, as export diversification continues to gain momentum across multiple markets.”
She attributed the growth to consistent policy support, targeted NEPC interventions, and the contributions of small and medium-sized enterprises, which make up about 96 percent of businesses in the country. Women, she added, account for roughly 40 percent of SME operators, making them vital to export growth.
Also speaking, the President’s Special Adviser on Export Expansion, Aliyu Sheriff, stressed the need to prioritise women-led enterprises. “Our women must not just participate in trade; they must compete, dominate, and lead,” he said, calling for efforts to address barriers such as access to finance and markets.
Nichole Mensah, Special Assistant to the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, added that women-led businesses in Nigeria are driving innovation despite structural challenges. She highlighted the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy initiative, noting that Nigeria is among the countries benefiting from the programme aimed at helping women-owned businesses compete globally.
