Women in Management, Business, and Public Service (WIMBIZ) has successfully hosted a high-impact webinar on Nigeria-UK cross-border trade opportunities, aimed at sensitising women entrepreneurs and fostering strategic business partnerships between both nations.
Speaking during the webinar, which brought together an array of distinguished speakers and experts to discuss the challenges and opportunities for women in international trade, WIMBIZ Executive Director, Omowunmi Akingbohungbe emphasized the significance of cross-border collaboration, encouraging participants to leverage the insights and networks provided during the session.
In his address, Keynote speaker, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment, Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi underscored the role of women in strengthening trade ties between Nigeria and the UK. Discussions centred on the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP), signed in February 2024, which has boosted bilateral trade to £7.2 billion in Q4 2024, a 1.2% increase from Q3 2023. The ambassador highlighted the need for policies supporting women-led businesses, particularly in the formal market.
On his part, Head of Industry, Trade and Investment at Nigeria High Commission London, Ambassador Bello Jaye reiterated Nigeria’s strong trade relationship with the UK, pointing out opportunities in agriculture, energy, technology, and healthcare. Jaye encouraged Nigerian women, including those in the diaspora, to explore investment avenues such as British International Investment (BII) and other UK-backed initiatives.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), Aisha Rimi identified the various investment support programs, including the One-Stop Investment Centre, designed to simplify business registration and regulatory compliance. She emphasized NIPC’s commitment to advocating for policies that enhance female entrepreneurs’ participation in Nigeria’s economy.
Deputy Director, Head, Export Inclusiveness Division (Women, Youth and Special needs), Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Ngozi Ibe identified the Women in Export Development Program, which promotes gender inclusion in non-oil export sectors. Ibe detailed initiatives such as capacity-building programs, business support partnerships with WIMBIZ, and the UK-backed SheTrades initiative, which has empowered over 8,000 women.
While speaking, the Country Director for the UK Department for Business and Trade, Mark Smithson highlighted the benefits of the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), which grants duty-free access to nearly 3,000 Nigerian goods.
In the same vein, Lead on ETIP & Trade Policy, British High Commission, Abuja, Nigeria, Mujina Kaindama outlined upcoming trade missions and networking events designed to support Nigerian female entrepreneurs.
During his session, the Chair UK Institute of Directors (IOD) Africa Group, Joel Popoola covered the regulatory requirements for exporting goods to the UK. According to Popoola, there is high demand for Nigerian products such as ginger, onion, and coffee. The session addressed visa challenges, with speakers advising on available UK business support structures, including partnerships with universities and local councils.
The webinar concluded with a strong call to action for Nigerian women entrepreneurs to seize the vast trade opportunities available, engage with relevant business support organizations, just as WIMBIZ remains committed to championing women’s economic empowerment through strategic initiatives and partnerships.
The replay of the session will be on the WIMBIZ YouTube page with the intention of ensuring that every woman out there aspiring to expand into international markets has access to the knowledge and insights to achieve this.
About WIMBIZ:
WIMBIZ (Women in Management, Business, and Public Service) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and supporting women in leadership roles. WIMBIZ is of African roots with a global perspective of connecting and inspiring women across the globe to catalyze their growth to leadership positions and contribution to nation-building. With a history spanning 24 years, WIMBIZ has implemented various programs that inspire, empower, and advocate for greater representation of women in both the public and private sectors.
We have a global network of over 2,886 accomplished women who contribute to their initiatives in management, business, and public service. WIMBIZ collaborates with reputable domestic and international organizations to deliver impactful programs, positively influencing over 344,335 women to excel in their careers and businesses.
www.wimbiz.org
