World Trade Organisation Director-General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has lauded President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to stabilise Nigeria’s economy, describing the reforms introduced under his leadership as steps in the right direction.
She made the remarks on Thursday after paying a courtesy visit to the President at the State House.
Okonjo-Iweala explained that her meeting with Tinubu primarily focused on the unveiling of a significant programme designed to empower Nigerian women engaged in the digital export economy. She noted that the initiative, called the Women Exporters Fund for the Digital Economy, is a joint project between the WTO and the International Trade Centre (ITC) in Geneva. The fund aims to strengthen women’s economic participation, help them navigate economic challenges, and enable them to create employment opportunities for themselves and others.
According to her, Nigeria is one of only four countries worldwide selected for this pioneering scheme after a competitive process. Out of 67,000 Nigerian women who applied, 146 were selected to receive direct financial support. Sixteen of these beneficiaries, already running established businesses, qualified for the “booster track,” which will provide them with 18 months of technical and business development assistance from the WTO and ITC in collaboration with Nigeria’s Ministry of Trade and Investment. Another 100 recipients will receive $5,000 each to start or expand their businesses, alongside a year of advisory support.
She credited Nigeria’s Minister of Trade and Investment and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council for steering the programme locally. The expectation, she said, is that the funded women entrepreneurs will scale up operations, generate more jobs, boost household incomes, and contribute positively to national revenue.
On the broader economy, Okonjo-Iweala acknowledged that the administration’s early policy changes had brought about a much-needed level of stability. “You cannot really improve an economy unless it’s stable,” she said, adding that the government deserved recognition for laying this foundation.
However, she stressed that stability must now be followed by growth, underpinned by strong social safety nets to cushion the impact of economic reforms on vulnerable groups. She emphasised that fostering expansion, creating employment, and increasing disposable income must be the next phase of Nigeria’s economic strategy.
What you should know
The Women Exporters Fund for the Digital Economy is part of a global initiative targeting female entrepreneurs, with Nigeria emerging as one of only four countries to secure participation.
The programme offers both financial grants and sustained technical support, aiming to build resilience among women-led businesses and stimulate job creation in the country’s digital export sector.
