$50m women exporters fund to be disbursed in Q1 2026 – NEPC

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has assured beneficiaries of the $50 million Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund that the first tranche of grants under the programme will be disbursed in the first quarter of 2026, following the completion of ongoing capacity-building and compliance processes.

The assurance was given during a Town Hall Meeting for WEIDE Fund beneficiaries held yesterday in Abuja, where beneficiaries, coaches and programme partners reviewed progress made since the fund was launched in August 2025.

The $50 million WEIDE (Women Exporters in the Digital Economy) Fund is a global initiative by the WTO and ITC to empower women-led businesses in developing countries, especially Nigeria, by providing training, finance, and market access for digital trade, helping them grow from small enterprises to global players through support like grants and mentorship, as seen in its launch phase benefiting 146 Nigerian women entrepreneurs.

Speaking at the event, Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director/CEO, NEPC, called on beneficiaries of the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund to maximize the opportunities provided by the programme, emphasizing the progress made and the milestones achieved since its launch.

Ayeni said the engagement was meant to review the programme’s achievements, identify areas for improvement, and strengthen support for the beneficiaries.

“So it’s time for us to get together at the end of the year to see how far we’ve gone, how well we’ve done, and what we need to do to make it better and support them more effectively through the WEIDE Fund,” she said.

Ayeni highlighted the significant capacity-building activities conducted for the 146 selected women entrepreneurs, noting that top-tier coaches and trainers had been deployed immediately after the official launch in August by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, DG of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

“These coaches are exceptional. They’ve trained our beneficiaries in financial literacy, bookkeeping, soft skills, leadership, succession planning, and digital tools so they can compete globally,” she said.

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