Nigerian women entrepreneurs are receiving grant funding of up to $30,000 under the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund, a global initiative designed to help women-led businesses expand their export capacity and compete in international markets.
The programme is being implemented in Nigeria by the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) in partnership with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the International Trade Centre (ITC). Beyond funding, the initiative provides technical support, digital skills training, business diagnostics and market access opportunities for participating businesses.
According to NEPC, the WEIDE Fund was created to address barriers that continue to limit the growth of women-led Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), particularly in access to finance, digital tools and global trade opportunities.
Speaking on the programme, NEPC Head of Corporate Communication, Aliu Sadiq, said the initiative aims to strengthen the export competitiveness of women-owned businesses while increasing their participation in the digital economy.
“It will also close the gap in export opportunities that limit the potential of women-led Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs),” he said.
The WEIDE Fund operates as a $50 million multi-donor facility that combines grant financing with export readiness services, technical assistance and business development support. Nigeria was selected as one of only four pilot countries for the programme, alongside Jordan, the Dominican Republic and Mongolia.
NEPC secured the role of implementing organisation in Nigeria after emerging successful in a competitive global evaluation process that involved more than 600 institutions worldwide.
Interest in the programme has been significant. Following its launch in Abuja on August 14, 2025, NEPC received about 67,000 applications from Nigerian women entrepreneurs across different sectors.
After the selection process, 141 women-led businesses were chosen for the 2025/2026 cycle.
Under the Discovery Track, 128 beneficiaries will receive grants of $5,000 each alongside 12 months of technical support. Businesses selected under the Booster Track will receive larger grants of $30,000 and 18 months of technical assistance aimed at accelerating export growth and market expansion.
The programme also places strong emphasis on capacity building. Beneficiaries have participated in training sessions held in Abuja and Lagos covering financial literacy, bookkeeping, tax compliance, business management, export documentation and regulatory requirements.
Participants were also introduced to opportunities within Nigeria’s non-oil export sector, including the use of digital marketing and e-commerce platforms to reach international customers.
NEPC noted that participation in the training programme is a requirement for grant disbursement, which has already commenced.
According to feedback received from participating SMEs, the initiative has already improved business structures, financial record-keeping practices, understanding of export procedures and adoption of digital tools needed for business expansion and international trade.