A total of “146” Nigerian women have been selected to benefit from the $50 million Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) fund.
The WEIDE fund was launched by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Thursday 14 August, 2025.
The Fund which is managed by the WTO and the International Trade Centre (ITC) is “designed to support women to thrive through trade in the digital economy”; the selected Nigerian women emerged via a “competitive” process from a whopping “67,000” applicants.
They will receive grants to “expand” their businesses in digital economy.
Okonjo-Iweala announced on X: “A fantastic launch of the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) fund in Nigeria today! The WEIDE Fund is a $50 million fund jointly managed by the @WTO and @ITCnews designed to support women to thrive through trade in the digital economy.
“Nigeria is one of 4 countries that successfully competed to be a pilot country alongside Jordan, Dominican Republic and Mongolia. 146 Nigerian women were selected through a competitive process from 67,000 applicants to receive grants to expand their businesses in the digital economy.
“Congratulations to the awardees, to @OfficialNEPC, to H.E Minister Jumoke Oduwole – Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and her team, for being the backbone of this successful launch today. With the wife of the Vice President H.E Hajia Nana Kashim Shetima, H.E Minister @joduwole – Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment,
“H.E Minister of State for Industry Senator John Enoh, H.E Minister of Women Affairs Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, H.E Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Dr Bosun Tijani, Ms Nonye Ayeni – Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council,
“Comptroller-General of Customs Mr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe – MD of Fidelity Bank, Ms Miriam Olusanya – MD of Guaranty Trust Bank and Mr Roosevelt Ogbonna -MD of Access Bank.”
