The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has announced that the first wave of financial grants from the $50 million Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund will be disbursed in March 2026. This follows a rigorous training and compliance phase designed to ensure that the beneficiaries are not just recipients of capital, but are “export-ready” global competitors.
Speaking at a year-end Town Hall Meeting in Abuja on December 17, 2025, NEPC CEO Nonye Ayeni emphasized that Nigeria is one of only four pilot countries globally—and the only one in Africa—selected for this prestigious World Trade Organisation (WTO) and International Trade Centre (ITC) initiative
The Grant Breakdown: Discovery vs. Booster Tracks
Following a competitive process that saw over 67,000 applications, 146 women-led businesses were selected. The fund is structured into two distinct pathways to cater to different business stages:
The NEPC has been working with top-tier coaches to prepare these entrepreneurs since the fund’s official launch by WTO DG Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in August 2025. The program focuses on bridging the “skills gap” before the “funding gap”:
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Digital Mastery: Training on how to sell on major global e-commerce platforms and navigate international digital trade rules.
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Business Grooming: Essential modules in financial literacy, bookkeeping, succession planning, and tax compliance.
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Operational Excellence: Specialized training in product packaging and value addition to meet international standards.
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Market Integration: Direct mentorship and connections to banks and international investors for sustainable growth.
The Final Countdown to March 2026
The disbursement timeline is strategic. Beneficiaries are scheduled for a final round of intensive training in February 2026, with the actual fund release expected the following month. This “training-first” approach is intended to prevent the “disappearance” of recipients after collection and ensure the grants translate into measurable jobs and foreign exchange earnings.
“The success of WEIDE will not be measured only by grants disbursed, but by businesses strengthened, markets accessed, and jobs created,” noted Ndubueze Okeke, Director of Trade Information at NEPC.
With Nigeria’s non-oil exports growing by over 20% in the last year, this initiative is positioned as a key driver to further diversify the economy by empowering the country’s most resilient entrepreneurs: its women.
