Nigeria’s Intra-African Trade Up 14% As FG Targets Stronger Regional Integration At 2025 Int’l Trade Fair…Oduwole
Nigeria ready to serve as Africa’s marketplace, gateway to commerce…MSMEs take centre stage as investment, innovation top agenda at fair
By BENJAMIN OMOIKELAGOS, Nigeria — Nigeria, over the weekend, reaffirmed its ambition to become a leading regional marketplace and a strategic gateway to West Africa and the continent, as the 2025 Nigeria International Trade Fair opened at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex.
The 10-day fair, themed “Trade, Technology and Transformation: Leveraging Digital Trade for Economic and Industrial Growth,” drew senior government officials, private-sector leaders, investors, SMEs and international trade partners. Declaring the event open, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said Nigeria’s expanding commercial links within Africa—highlighted by a 14% rise in intra-African trade in the first half of the year—reflect the nation’s growing relevance in regional commerce. “Nigeria stands ready to serve as a regional marketplace and an accessible gateway to West Africa and the continent,” Oduwole said.“This trade fair is more than an exhibition; it is a testament to the resilience of our economy and our unwavering commitment to growth, collaboration and partnership.”
She added that, during Nigeria’s participation in various international trade missions this year, foreign partners demonstrated strong interest in Nigerian products and enterprises.According to her, the Federal Government remains committed to deepening regional integration, strengthening business linkages and providing an enabling environment aligned with the administration’s eight-point agenda.
Oduwole also highlighted the central role of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), urging them to take advantage of the fair’s diverse product showcases, innovations and service offerings. Fairground Being Repositioned for National Economic Impact Earlier, the Executive Director/CEO of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board (LITFCMB), Barr. Vera Safiya Ndanusa, reaffirmed the board’s statutory mandate to organize national trade fairs and reposition the Complex as a functional economic hub. “Our goal is to create and sustain an environment where trade thrives, businesses can scale and investment can flow freely,” she said.“A vibrant trade ecosystem must be inclusive, and inclusivity begins with access.”
She added that efforts were underway to make participation more affordable for SMEs, women-led enterprises and young entrepreneurs, noting that the board aims to restore the Complex as a nationally relevant centre for enterprise growth and investment inflow. Legislative Support for Local Industry Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce, Hon. Munir Ahmed, reiterated the National Assembly’s commitment to strengthening the private sector through laws that improve the ease of doing business. He emphasized the legislature’s support for the “Nigeria First” procurement policy, which mandates ministries and agencies to prioritise locally manufactured goods. “We must buy Nigeria to build Nigeria,” he said, adding that work was ongoing on a bill to strengthen quality control and measurement standards across industries. Strong Government and Private-Sector Presence This year’s fair is backed by a broad coalition of partners, including state governments (Lagos, Imo, Oyo and Niger), federal regulatory agencies, export-focused institutions, and major corporate brands such as First Bank, Tolaram, CCECC, Guinness, Kellogg’s, Indomie, Lush Hair, Wazobia Media, and others. Also present at the opening ceremony were the Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Owan Eno; the Permanent Secretary, Amb. Nura Abba Rimi; SMEDAN Director-General, Charles Odii; Managing Director of Tafawa Balewa Square, Mrs. Lucia Shittu; and the Royal Father of the Day, His Royal Highness Gen. Yahaya Abubakar (Etsu Nupe). Nigeria’s Flagship Trade Platform Founded in 1981, the Nigeria International Trade Fair is the country’s flagship trade exhibition and a major ECOWAS-wide commercial platform. This year’s edition is expected to attract more than 4,000 attendees and feature over 50 exhibitions, product launches, investment showcases and business-to-business engagements. The fair runs from November 21 to 30 at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex.
