Over 80 women entrepreneurs positioned themselves to access Africa’s integrated market worth trillions as SheConnectsAfrica 2025 delivered transformative business training in Lagos this week.
The three-day capacity-building program equipped women-led enterprises with practical tools for cross-border trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area, potentially unlocking significant revenue streams for participating businesses.
Expert-led sessions covered critical trade elements including goods and services exchange, tax compliance frameworks, and business registration processes. Participants received specialized training on navigating AfCFTA tariff schedules, positioning their enterprises for continental market expansion.
“This workshop provided immediately actionable solutions,” organizers confirmed. “From tariff structures to financing access, participating entrepreneurs gained concrete tools for scaling operations beyond national borders.”
The business clinic component delivered instant value to participants. The Corporate Affairs Commission resolved longstanding registration and compliance challenges on-site, while Parallex Bank provided guidance on SME financing options and credit access strategies.
“Registration issues that persisted for over a year were resolved in one day,” reported workshop participants. “The immediate problem-solving approach made this experience invaluable.”
High-level facilitators from the Bank of Industry, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, and Nigeria Customs Service shared expertise with participating entrepreneurs. The Nigeria Data Protection Commission addressed digital economy trust-building through data protection compliance.
Federal Inland Revenue Service representatives advised participants on tax compliance strategies, positioning businesses for public and private sector funding opportunities. This comprehensive approach addressed multiple operational challenges simultaneously.
“Inclusive trade initiatives like SheConnectsAfrica drive economic growth,” noted development cooperation officials. “When women entrepreneurs thrive, entire economies benefit from increased productivity and innovation.”
The workshop drew funding support from Germany through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit. This partnership with the ECOWAS Agricultural Trade Programme demonstrates international commitment to African trade facilitation.
Participants concluded the program by developing individualized action plans for business formalization and AfCFTA trade exploration. Many described the experience as transformative for their understanding of continental market opportunities.
The initiative addresses critical gaps in cross-border trade knowledge while providing practical solutions for women-led enterprises seeking market expansion across Africa’s integrated economic zone.
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