By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), in partnership with Trade Facilitation Office (TFO) Canada, has launched a five-year initiative aimed at strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly women-owned businesses, and improving their access to international markets.
The project, known as Trade for Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth (TRISEG), will run from 2025 to 2030 and is funded by the Canadian government through Global Affairs Canada.
Speaking at the launch in Abuja, ACCI President, Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, PhD, said the initiative would strengthen Nigeria’s business ecosystem by building the capacity of trade support institutions and improving the competitiveness of enterprises.
Obegolu said the partnership reflected ACCI’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for Nigerian businesses to become more productive, resilient and competitive in local, regional and international markets.
He noted that inclusive economic growth required not only the establishment of businesses but also the provision of adequate support to enable them to compete effectively in larger markets.
“TRISEG provides an opportunity to strengthen the capacity of Trade Support Institutions to deliver more inclusive and gender-responsive services,” he said.
The initiative is expected to directly support 200 SMEs in Nigeria, with 67 per cent comprising businesses owned or led by women and other under-represented groups.
Globally, the programme will target 3,200 SMEs, including 2,133 owned or led by women and under-represented groups, across 16 developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
A key component of the project is the SME Climate Resilience Fund, which will provide technical assistance, digital resources, training, capacity building and investment planning support to help selected businesses improve environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
Obegolu said the component was particularly important as Nigerian enterprises increasingly needed to balance commercial success with environmental responsibility and long-term sustainability.
The launch also featured a stakeholder validation workshop on the Nigeria Export Market Analysis and Institutional Capacity Assessment, which brought together trade support institutions, government agencies, financial institutions, development partners and private-sector organizations.
The workshop examined challenges affecting Nigerian SMEs, including financing gaps, institutional constraints, limited digitalization, capacity development and access to international markets.
Obegolu urged stakeholders to move beyond validating existing findings and develop practical solutions that would improve the ability of Nigerian businesses to access global markets.
He also called for stronger partnerships among SMEs, financial institutions, trade support institutions and international buyers, stressing the need to translate the project’s outcomes into measurable results.
The ACCI president expressed appreciation to TFO Canada and the Canadian government for their continued support for Nigerian businesses, describing the initiative as an opportunity to strengthen existing collaboration between the organisations.
“We are not simply launching another project. We are strengthening an ecosystem,” he said.
Also speaking, ACCI First Deputy President and Chairman of its Business Entrepreneurship, Skills and Technology (BEST) Centre, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, commended TFO Canada for supporting efforts to build the capacity of women entrepreneurs and SME owners through training, mentorship and sustained assistance.
Adesugba said the partnership had enabled the BEST Centre to provide business owners with the support and opportunities needed to grow their enterprises.
He expressed optimism that the TRISEG project would deepen the collaboration and create additional opportunities for women entrepreneurs and SMEs.
Similarly, ACCI Director-General, Mr Agabaidu Jideani, said the initiative would strengthen the capacity of trade support institutions to provide gender-responsive services, including market intelligence, business coaching, export development, digital strategies and connections with Canadian and other international buyers.
Jideani commended TFO Canada for its continued support for women-owned businesses and SMEs, noting that such interventions were essential to improving business competitiveness and expanding market access.
He called for sustained collaboration among stakeholders to promote inclusive trade and create more economic opportunities for women and small businesses.
TFO Canada Executive Director, Steve Tipman, said the organization was proud to support Nigerian SMEs in improving their export readiness and accessing opportunities in international markets.
He described TRISEG as a reflection of the longstanding partnership between TFO Canada, Nigerian institutions and Global Affairs Canada.
Through the initiative, TFO Canada will also provide up-to-date trade information through its online platform, with an expected reach of more than 5,550 SME beneficiaries across participating countries.
The 16 countries participating in the programme are Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras and Peru.
The event was coordinated by ACCI Deputy Director-General, Dr Tinuke Temitope, who commended participants and thanked the TFO Canada team for its support towards the successful launch.
ACCI reaffirmed its commitment to working with TFO Canada, government institutions, development partners and the private sector to ensure that the project delivers sustainable economic opportunities for Nigerian SMEs, particularly women-led businesses and other under-represented enterprises.
