The World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) have selected Nigeria as one of four pilot countries for a landmark US$50 million initiative designed to empower women entrepreneurs in the digital economy.
The Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund was unveiled in Abuja by WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who confirmed Nigeria’s inclusion alongside Jordan, Mongolia, and the Dominican Republic.
Through a highly competitive process, 146 Nigerian women were chosen from a pool of 67,000 global applicants.
The selected entrepreneurs will receive financial grants and tailored training to help scale their ventures.
“These women will gain the tools to expand,” Okonjo-Iweala said, noting that beneficiaries come from diverse industries, including fashion, tourism, agriculture, information technology, and manufacturing.
The programme aims to equip participants with the skills to navigate global e-commerce platforms, comply with export regulations, and connect with international investors. By doing so, officials hope to transform small digital enterprises into businesses with global reach.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Industry, John Owan Enoh, praised the initiative as a breakthrough for the nation’s economy. “This funding will strengthen women’s role in global markets, drive industrial growth, and foster innovation,” he stated.
Enoh reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to supporting female entrepreneurs who are breaking barriers and contributing to economic transformation.
The WEIDE Fund represents one of the most significant efforts yet to close the gender gap in digital trade within developing economies.
For Nigeria’s entrepreneurs, it offers not only funding and training but also the opportunity to position themselves on the global stage.
With the first cohort now selected, the spotlight turns to how these women will leverage the programme to expand their businesses beyond Nigeria’s borders and into international markets.
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