ACCI, TFO CANADA LAUNCH FIVE-YEAR PROJECT TO STRENGTHEN SMEs, EXPAND EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES
Oru Leonard
The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), in collaboration with Trade Facilitation Office (TFO), Canada, has launched a five-year initiative to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), improve export readiness and promote inclusive economic growth in Nigeria.
The project, known as Trade for Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth (TRISEG), will run from 2025 to 2030 and is funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada.
The initiative is being implemented across 16 developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, with a focus on strengthening Trade Support Institutions (TSIs) and equipping businesses, particularly women-owned enterprises and other under-represented groups, to compete in domestic and international markets.
Speaking at the launch in Abuja, ACCI President, Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, PhD, described the initiative as a significant opportunity to improve Nigeria’s business environment by strengthening the institutions that support enterprises while enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs.
Obegolu said the partnership aligned with ACCI’s commitment to helping Nigerian businesses become more productive, resilient and capable of accessing local, regional and international markets.
He noted that inclusive economic growth required more than establishing businesses, stressing the importance of equipping entrepreneurs with the skills, institutional support and market connections needed to compete successfully.
According to him, TRISEG would strengthen the capacity of Trade Support Institutions to provide inclusive and gender-responsive services to businesses.
The project is expected to directly benefit 200 Nigerian SMEs, with 67 per cent of the targeted businesses owned or led by women and members of other under-represented groups.
At the international level, the programme targets 3,200 SMEs, including 2,133 enterprises owned or led by women and other under-represented groups.
A key component of the project is the SME Climate Resilience Fund, which will support selected businesses through technical assistance, digital resources, training, capacity development and the preparation of investment plans.
The intervention is designed to help enterprises strengthen environmental sustainability, adapt to climate-related challenges and build long-term business resilience.
The ACCI president emphasised the importance of the climate resilience component, noting that Nigerian businesses must increasingly integrate environmental responsibility into their operations while pursuing commercial growth.
He said the initiative would provide opportunities for SMEs to improve their operations, respond to emerging market demands and develop sustainable business models.
Obegolu also urged stakeholders to establish stronger connections among SMEs, financial institutions, Trade Support Institutions and international buyers to improve access to finance, technical expertise and export markets.
The launch featured a Stakeholder Validation Workshop on the Nigeria Export Market Analysis and Institutional Capacity Assessment, bringing together key actors in the country’s trade and business development ecosystem.
Participants included representatives of government agencies, financial institutions, development partners, private-sector organisations, business associations and institutions supporting women entrepreneurs and other under-represented groups.
The workshop provided a platform for stakeholders to examine and validate findings on the challenges facing Nigerian SMEs, particularly those relating to institutional capacity, financing, digitalisation, skills development and access to international markets.
Obegolu urged participants to go beyond endorsing the findings and develop practical recommendations that would address the barriers confronting businesses seeking to expand beyond Nigeria.
He stressed that the exercise should produce clear priorities and actionable interventions capable of delivering measurable improvements in SME competitiveness and export performance.
The ACCI president expressed appreciation to TFO Canada and the Government of Canada, through Global Affairs Canada, for supporting Nigerian businesses and institutions.
He said the initiative built on the longstanding relationship between ACCI and TFO Canada, reaffirming the Chamber’s commitment to providing the institutional platform required for the project’s effective implementation.
“We are not simply launching another project. We are strengthening an ecosystem,” Obegolu said, urging stakeholders to share practical experiences and work towards sustainable solutions.
The First Deputy President of ACCI and Chairman of its Business Entrepreneurship, Skills and Technology (BEST) Centre, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, commended TFO Canada for its continued collaboration with the Centre in building the capacity of women entrepreneurs and SME owners.
Adesugba said the partnership had helped create opportunities for business owners through continuous training, mentorship and sustained institutional support.
He described TFO Canada as a trusted partner whose interventions had contributed to strengthening the capacity of women-led businesses and small enterprises.
“We are able to provide the necessary support to this group of business owners because you have been a trusted partner. We believe this launch will further strengthen our collaboration and open up more opportunities for women entrepreneurs and SMEs,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the TRISEG initiative would deepen the existing partnership and expand opportunities for entrepreneurs seeking to improve their business performance and access new markets.
The Director-General of ACCI, Mr Agabaidu Jideani, said the initiative would enhance the ability of Trade Support Institutions to deliver more effective and gender-responsive services to Nigerian businesses.
He explained that the services would include market intelligence, business coaching, export development, digital strategies and connections with Canadian and other international buyers.
Jideani commended TFO Canada for its sustained support for women-owned businesses and SMEs, noting that such interventions were essential to improving business capacity, competitiveness and access to international markets.
He also called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to promote inclusive trade and expand economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs and small businesses.
The ACCI director-general expressed confidence that closer cooperation among business associations, government institutions, development partners and private-sector organisations would help create a more supportive environment for Nigerian enterprises.
Speaking, the Executive Director of TFO Canada, Steve Tipman, said the organisation was pleased to support Nigerian SMEs in strengthening their export readiness and exploring opportunities in international markets.
Tipman described TRISEG as a continuation of the organisation’s longstanding partnership with Nigerian institutions and Global Affairs Canada.
He said the programme would help participating businesses access relevant trade information and improve their preparedness for international commerce.
Through its online platform, TFO Canada is also expected to provide up-to-date trade information, with a projected reach of more than 5,550 SME beneficiaries across participating countries.
The event was coordinated by ACCI Deputy Director-General, Dr Tinuke Temitope, who commended participants for their contributions and thanked the TFO Canada team for supporting the successful launch.
The TRISEG project is being implemented in 16 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
The participating countries are Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras and Peru.
The initiative is expected to strengthen the capacity of businesses and the institutions that support them, with particular attention to enterprises owned or led by women and other under-represented groups.
For Nigeria, the programme presents an opportunity to improve export preparedness, strengthen institutional support for SMEs and encourage businesses to adopt sustainable practices while pursuing growth in international markets.
ACCI reaffirmed its commitment to working with TFO Canada, government institutions, development partners and private-sector stakeholders to ensure that the initiative delivers tangible and sustainable benefits to Nigerian businesses.
The Chamber said its priority would be to translate the project’s objectives into practical opportunities that improve enterprise capacity, promote inclusive trade and expand market access, particularly for women-led businesses and other under-represented enterprises.
Credit: Olayemi John-Mensah
ACCI Media & Strategy
