Nigeria positioned as West Africa’s gateway — Minister

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, says Nigeria is strategically positioned to become the region’s key marketplace and a major gateway to West Africa and the rest of the continent.

Speaking at the opening of the 2025 Nigeria International Trade Fair on Friday in Lagos, Oduwole said Nigeria’s trade with African countries grew by 14% in the first half of the year — a sign of expanding opportunities across the continent.

The fair, themed “Trade, Technology and Transformation: Digital Trade Fair for Economic and Industrial Growth,” runs from Nov. 21 to 30 at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex.

Oduwole said global interest in Nigerian products is rising, with strong engagements recorded during visits to African and international trade fairs.

She described the annual Lagos trade fair as a transformative platform that has helped reshape Nigeria’s commercial future, especially in tough economic times.

“Our commitment to growth and partnership remains firm,” she said, noting that the event aligns with the Federal Government’s eight-point agenda to build a thriving business environment.

The minister highlighted the crucial role of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), urging them to maximise the fair’s opportunities for showcasing products, innovations and services.

Earlier, Executive Director of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board, Vera Ndanusa, said the fair aims to strengthen Nigeria’s commercial ecosystem by promoting digital trade and industrial innovation.

She added that measures are being put in place to make participation easier for SMEs, youth-led and women-led businesses.

“We are custodians of a national gateway to economic opportunity,” Ndanusa said.

Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce, Munir Ahmed, affirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to boosting MSMEs through legislation that enhances ease of doing business and supports local production.

“We must buy Nigeria to build Nigeria,” he said, noting progress on laws to improve standards, reduce regulatory barriers and strengthen essential infrastructure.

Dignitaries at the event included the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, and former Niger State Governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu.