By Muhammad Mamman
More than half of Nigeria’s population remains offline, a stark digital divide that could hinder the nation’s ability to capitalize on the booming $4.25 trillion global digital trade market, World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala cautioned Thursday. Speaking at the launch of the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund in Abuja, she urged Nigeria to bridge the connectivity gap to unlock economic opportunities, particularly for women entrepreneurs.
“Digital trade is the fastest-growing segment of global commerce, yet Africa’s share is less than 1%,” Okonjo-Iweala said. “With only 45% of Nigerians connected to the internet—well below the global average of 67%—we must act swiftly to ensure reliable, affordable access and steady electricity to compete.”
The WEIDE Fund, a collaborative initiative by the WTO, International Trade Centre (ITC), and Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), aims to empower women entrepreneurs to thrive in the digital economy. Nigeria is one of four countries selected for the fund’s 2024 rollout, alongside Jordan, Mongolia, and the Dominican Republic, following a rigorous global selection process.
The program has already sparked overwhelming interest, with over 67,000 Nigerian women applying. Due to the exceptional quality of submissions, the number of beneficiaries was expanded from 100 to 146. Sixteen women in the Booster Track will receive up to $30,000 each and 18 months of technical assistance, while 130 in the Discovery Track will get up to $5,000 and a year of business support. Awardees span diverse sectors, including agriculture, IT, fashion, hospitality, beauty, and manufacturing.
“When women trade internationally, their earnings nearly triple compared to local markets,” Okonjo-Iweala emphasized. “The WEIDE Fund equips Nigerian women with the tools, skills, and global market access to transform their businesses and drive economic growth.”
Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, echoed her call, pledging robust government support. “Women entrepreneurs have a unique ability to connect products to real-world problems,” Tijani said. “Their empathy creates solutions with lasting impact.”
The initiative also earned praise from Dr. Dele Oye, President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA), who hailed it as a vital step toward positioning Nigeria in the global digital trade ecosystem and advancing the nation’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy.
Okonjo-Iweala called for stronger collaboration between Nigeria’s Ministries of Communications, Industry, and Power to address infrastructure challenges and close the connectivity gap, warning that failure to act could leave Nigeria trailing in the global digital race.
