Connect with us

Empowerment

Lagos SMEs Export Readiness Programme Empowers Businesses for Global Trade

Published

on

Lagos SMEs Export Readiness Programme

The Lagos SMEs Export Readiness Programme empowers 253 small businesses with tools for cross-border trade under AfCFTA and international market access

The Lagos SMEs Export Readiness Programme has officially launched to equip small and medium-sized enterprises with the tools needed to expand into international markets.

Also read: Wema Bank Shines at Global SME Finance Forum Conference Awards 2024 …Awarded: • SME Financier of the Year (Africa) • Platinum Award for Best Financier for Women Entrepreneurs (Africa)

The initiative, driven by the Lagos State Government in partnership with Afreximbank and the not-for-profit organisation ImpactHER, targets 253 selected SMEs with training on export readiness under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mrs Folashade Ambrose, Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, said the launch marks a defining chapter in the state’s commitment to scaling local enterprises beyond national borders.

“Our MSMEs must evolve from local champions to continental contenders,” she said.

“This programme is the vehicle that will drive us into new markets, beyond borders, and into the centre of intra-African commerce.”

The training, which began on July 4, covers vital areas such as export documentation, trade finance, logistics, product packaging standards, digital trade, and gender-responsive strategies for women-led MSMEs.

According to organisers, the sessions are designed to demystify exporting and build the practical skills needed to thrive beyond Nigeria’s borders.

Participants will also receive mentorship following the four-week training.

The most outstanding 20 SMEs will be selected to represent Lagos at the Intra-African Trade Fair in Algiers this September, offering access to over 1.3 billion consumers.

Mr Ody Akhanoba, Director of SME Development at Afreximbank, noted that the bank’s investment in SME training will boost Africa’s global trade presence.

“We are turning on the SME’s capacity to be more competitive in the market,” he said.

Clementina Uzogor, representing ImpactHER, stressed that the six-week training is a strategic opportunity for participants to network, scale operations and tap into wider continental trade channels.

Also read: Access Bank Partners SME.NG To Launch Ebi Marketplace

With Lagos at the forefront of Nigeria’s commerce, the Lagos SMEs Export Readiness Programme signals a bold step towards transforming the state’s economic narrative through global trade participation.

56 / 100 SEO Score

Humanity

Rotary District 9112 Unveils Joint End-of-Year Event for Children and Families

Published

on

Rotary

Rotakids Committee partners with Family of Rotary Committee to host the Rotakids End-of-Year Party, promoting youth leadership and family unity

(more…)

68 / 100 SEO Score
Continue Reading

Empowerment

Kemi Wonders’ LAEL 2025 Set to Empower Widows and Celebrate Christmas

Published

on

Kemi Wonders

Gospel artiste Kemi Wonders LAEL 2025 praise concert in Lagos to feature music and 1,000 Christmas food packages for attendees

(more…)

70 / 100 SEO Score
Continue Reading

Empowerment

Ex-beauty queen, Tomi Salami’s Aurora Foundation partners LASEPA for cleaner, greener Lagos

Published

on

By

For a cleaner, greener Lagos, over 1,500 students from public secondary schools have been penciled to attend the 2nd edition of the Catch Them Young Environmental Awareness Convention, which will hold on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.
Organised by Aurora International Charity Foundation (AICF), in partnership with Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), the one-day knowledge-sharing, innovation, advocacy and environmental stewardship convention will also have as participants teachers, eco-advocates, youth leaders, celebrities, influencers and policymakers.
According to Ambassador Tomi Salami, President, Aurora International Charity Foundation, the summit, with the theme: Our Lagos, Our Future: Inspiring Young Minds for Sustainable Change, is a bold call to action focused on building a generation of environmentally-conscious young leaders equipped with the knowledge, creativity and civic responsibility to safeguard Lagos long-term sustainability.
With Lagos rapidly urbanising and facing increasing climate impact and environmental pressure, Aurora International Charity Foundation and LASEPA share a joint commitment to strengthening environmental education at the student level as a long-term behavioral change strategy, she said, adding Lagos is not just a place we live – it is a legacy we are all responsible for. To truly protect our future, we must start by educating those who will inherit it.
The former beauty queen and social entrepreneur stated that the convention would feature keynote sessions, eco-challenges, interactive panels, awards, climate education engagements and inspirational storytelling from role models driving environmental impact across Nigeria.
The summit would also serve as a platform to nurture leadership, community advocacy, innovation and civic responsibility among young Lagosians who will one day shape policy direction, sustainable business models and community action, she noted.
Over the years, Ms. Salami has embarked on a mission of advocacy for clean energy, climate action and environmental protection through her non-for-profit organization, Aurora International Charity Foundation.
Through the NGO, she has established a track record of positively impacting over 30,000 adults, youths and children across the country, using various platforms of education, welfare, empowerment and health. This years edition will build on the success of the 2024 debut, which convened nearly 1,000 students in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Environment & Water Resources, and received strong public endorsement for youth participation in sustainability initiatives.

39 / 100 SEO Score
Continue Reading

Trending News