WTO Unveils $50m Digital Trade Fund for 146 Nigerian Women

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has launched the Nigerian phase of its Women Exporters in Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund, a $50 million programme designed to break barriers for women entrepreneurs in the country’s digital trade sector.

Speaking at the launch in Abuja on Thursday, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, hailed the initiative as a timely boost to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The WEIDE Fund tackles the long-standing challenges women face from limited access to finance and networks to gaps in digital infrastructure and creates a pathway for them to compete globally,” Mrs Tinubu said. “By investing in our women, we are investing in the future of Nigeria.”

WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala revealed that 146 Nigerian women were chosen for the first phase after a competitive process.

“Sixteen participants in the booster track will receive $30,000 and 18 months of technical support, while 130 others will get $5,000 each and a year of dedicated mentorship,” Okonjo-Iweala said. “This is about giving women the tools and support they need to thrive in a digital-first global economy.”

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Jumoke Oduwole described the programme as a strong signal to the world.

“This is a declaration that women are equal partners in the digital marketplace, not mere spectators,” she said.

Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi pledged that his agency would remove red tape for women exporters.

“We will ease bureaucratic bottlenecks and open the gates for women entrepreneurs to take their products to the world without unnecessary delays,” Adeniyi assured.

Funded by the FIFA World Cup 2022 Legacy Fund, and the Governments of Bahrain and the UAE, the WEIDE Fund debuted in Abu Dhabi in February 2024. Nigeria, selected as a pilot country, received over 600 applications before the 146 beneficiaries were picked. The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) will partner with the WTO to implement the programme locally.

Minister of Women Affairs Iman Suleiman-Ibrahim and Minister of Innovation and Digital Economy Bosun Tijjani also pledged support, with Tijjani saying:

“Our women have the creativity and vision to lead in digital trade. What they need now is the platform — and this fund is that platform.”