Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has said Nigerian women stand to gain significantly from deeper participation in intra-African trade, describing their inclusion as essential to Nigeria’s leadership in Africa’s growing trade landscape.
Speaking at a colloquium on “Positioning Nigeria to Lead Intra-African Trade” in Abuja, the Minister noted that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could transform women-owned businesses and boost Nigeria’s economic competitiveness across the continent.
“The AfCFTA is no longer a promise; it is a market of 1.4 billion people, with a combined GDP exceeding $3 trillion, and intra-African trade projected to reach 35 percent of total African trade by 2040, up from 16 percent today,” she said.
Despite these opportunities, Sulaiman-Ibrahim stressed that Nigeria cannot fully realise its leadership potential if women remain marginalised in formal trade systems. “Nigeria cannot truly lead intra-African trade if half of its economic engine remains under-utilized,” she said.
The Minister highlighted women’s vital role in Nigeria’s economy, particularly in agriculture and informal commerce, noting structural barriers that limit access to resources and markets. “Women make up roughly 70 percent of Nigeria’s agricultural workforce but own less than 14 percent of agricultural land and access under 10 percent of formal agricultural credit,” she said.
Emphasising the broader economic impact, she added: “Supporting women’s participation in trade is not merely social equity; it is a strategic economic imperative.” Linking her remarks to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision, she said inclusive economic participation is central to the Renewed Hope Agenda, ensuring women are fully integrated into national and continental trade systems.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim also highlighted the Ministry’s initiatives, including the Nigeria for Women Programme, which organises women into structured groups to access savings, microcredit, and business formalisation, preparing them for larger markets created by AfCFTA.
She further noted the recent Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, aimed at expanding access to finance for export-ready women entrepreneurs. “This MOU is not ceremonial; it is a structured, accountable commitment,” she said.
The Minister concluded that empowering Nigerian women in trade, production, and innovation will enable the country not only to participate in Africa’s evolving trade system but also to shape it. With improved access to finance, markets, and capacity-building opportunities under AfCFTA, women entrepreneurs are set to play a significant role in boosting Nigeria’s trade performance and driving broader economic growth.
Stakeholders note that as Nigeria aims to expand its GDP to $1 trillion, empowering women across agriculture, manufacturing, and services could significantly strengthen the country’s productive base and contribute meaningfully to this economic target.
Glory Ohagwu/VON
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