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BY PHILIP NWOSU AND DAMIETE BRAIDE
The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has restated its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s economy by promoting intra-African trade and supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through national and continental trade fairs.
Speaking at the ongoing Nigeria International Trade Fair, the Minister of Trade and Investment Dr Jumoke Oduwole said the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which targets shared prosperity across Nigeria and the broader West African and African regions.
According to the minister, the Lagos International Trade Fair complex was purpose-built to expand trade opportunities within Africa and create a platform for MSMEs to showcase products proudly made in Nigeria.
“This trade fair is designed to ensure Africans can come in with their goods while giving Nigerian MSMEs the visibility they need,” she said.
The Ministry revealed that preparations are already underway for Nigeria to host major continental events, including the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in 2027, being organised by Afreximbank, the African Union (AU), and the AfCFTA Secretariat. The event, expected to take place at the National Theatre, the trade fair complex, and Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), is projected to attract more than 50,000 visitors and over 5,000 exhibitors to Lagos.
Before then, Lagos will also host CANEX, a major African cultural and creative festival scheduled for the fourth quarter of next year.
“These events present opportunities to showcase the very best of Nigerian products and accelerate the growth of our non-oil exports,” she added.
The Ministry disclosed that Nigeria’s non-oil exports grew by 14%, while exports to other African countries recorded a 24% increase last year. First quarter data released by the Central Bank of Nigeria, she noted, shows that Nigerian-made goods are witnessing rising demand across the continent.
To further drive export expansion, the Ministry recently opened an air cargo corridor in partnership with Uganda Airlines, mapping over 13 Eastern African countries with high demand for Nigerian products. Items such as fashion pieces, light manufacturing goods, snacks like plantain chips and chin-chin, as well as zobo, shea butter beauty products, slippers, and wigs are among the most sought after.
“These are products we often take for granted here, but they are in high demand across Africa,” she said, adding that the Ministry aims to help small businesses grow into medium-sized enterprises within the next five years.
Addressing concerns about multiple trade fairs across the country, the Ministry clarified that each trade fair serves a unique purpose and demographic, noting that collaboration, not competition, drives national trade development. She emphasized strong cooperation between the Ministry and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), citing their recent joint unveiling of the newly renovated obelisks at TBS, the historic site where the Nigerian flag was first hoisted in 1960.
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The official also highlighted the Federal Government’s push for digital trade, with new platforms and automated marketplaces being developed to support Nigerian businesses.
The event witnessed the presence of local government chairpersons, senior officials of the Ministry, the Minister of State, the Permanent Secretary, and several heads of agencies under the Ministry, demonstrating what she described as the government’s strong commitment to reviving and elevating the Nigeria International Trade Fair to its former status as one of the largest in Africa.
She urged Nigerians and stakeholders in the trade sector to continue supporting the Ministry’s ongoing reforms and collaborative efforts. “We have done a lot of work, and we are committed to doing even more. Please continue to support us,” she appealed.
Earlier, the Executive Director of the Nigeria International Trade Fair Complex, Vera Safiya Ndanusa, said the 2025 Nigeria International Trade Fair opened on Tuesday at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, with authorities declaring that Nigeria is ready to compete, collaborate, innovate and lead in global and continental commerce.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, she said the fair marks the beginning of a new chapter for the complex, which has long served as a historic hub for trade and enterprise in Nigeria and West Africa.
She noted that although the complex had over the years suffered structural and administrative setbacks, significant rehabilitation work has now been undertaken under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and in alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to her, key improvements include enhanced infrastructure, strengthened security, better sanitation, reorganized traffic flow, and the introduction of more transparent and accountable management systems.
“These steps are not cosmetic; they are foundational, they reflect our renewed commitment to transforming this complex into a modern, functional and competitive ecosystem for trade.” she said.
The Executive Director reaffirmed the legal mandate of the management board, stressing that the Nigeria International Trade Fair Complex remains Nigeria’s only agency expressly empowered by law to organize trade fairs. He said the board is determined to restore this statutory role to national prominence by ensuring coherence and uniform standards in trade exhibitions across the country.
She also outlined efforts to deepen collaboration with the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), ECOWAS, continental business networks and international partners in order to build a stronger and more integrated African marketplace.
“In the coming months, we will champion a more structured and modernized regulatory framework for trade fairs and exhibitions,” she said. “Our aim is to protect stakeholders, enforce standards and position Nigeria as a credible destination for regional and continental commerce.”
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