By Gabriel Ameh, The Sight News
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Her Excellency Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has emphasized the need to deepen regional trade integration and empower Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across Nigeria and West Africa.
She made the call while delivering her opening remarks at the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) Sensitization Workshop, held on Tuesday, 28 October 2025, at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, a statement by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the workshop as “timely and strategic,” noting that it aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation and promoting inclusive growth within the subregion.
“This initiative speaks directly to the urgent task before us to deepen regional integration, expand cross-border trade, and empower our SMEs to take their rightful place in the vast West African market,” she said.
The Minister commended Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of Enugu State and his cabinet for their hospitality and excellent organization of the event, praising the State’s leadership in fostering innovation and enterprise.
She explained that Enugu was deliberately chosen to host the workshop because of its growing status as a hub for economic transformation in Nigeria’s South-East region.
“SMEs are the engine room of our economy. They generate employment, stimulate innovation, and drive inclusive prosperity. Strengthening them is not merely a local concern but a regional imperative,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated.
Highlighting the significance of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS), she described it as a “strategic pillar of West Africa’s integration agenda,” adding that it complements the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and aligns with the broader vision of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
According to her, Nigeria’s leadership in advancing ETLS implementation is essential to ensuring that local entrepreneurs and manufacturers can compete and thrive regionally.
“The true measure of success lies not in Abuja or Lagos alone, but in how effectively our traders, manufacturers, and innovators are enabled to access regional markets. This workshop is about democratizing opportunity,” she noted.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu called on participants to actively engage, ask questions, and build partnerships that can extend their businesses beyond Nigeria’s borders.
She reaffirmed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ commitment to promoting economic diplomacy and trade facilitation, emphasizing that the prosperity of Nigerians remains the ultimate goal of foreign policy.
“Regional integration is not an abstract idea. It is about people, jobs, markets, and opportunities transforming promises into tangible benefits for every Nigerian entrepreneur,” she concluded.
