By Obinna Uballa
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), has cautioned that Nigeria’s sluggish internet penetration, with more than half the population still disconnected, threatens the nation’s ability to tap into the rapidly expanding global digital trade market worth $4.25 trillion.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday at the launch of the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund, Okonjo-Iweala revealed that only 45% of Nigerians are connected to the internet, far below the global average of 67%.
“No nation can truly digitize without a steady supply of electricity and reliable, affordable internet,” she said. “This gap must be closed if we are to seize the opportunities of digital trade.”
Nigeria is among four countries selected for the 2024 WEIDE Fund rollout, alongside Jordan, Mongolia, and the Dominican Republic, after a highly competitive process. The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), led by Executive Director Nonye Ayeni, will implement the program locally.
Over 67,000 Nigerian women entrepreneurs applied, prompting organizers to expand the number of beneficiaries from 100 to 146 due to the exceptional quality of applications.
For the Booster Track, 16 entrepreneurs will receive up to $30,000 each plus 18 months of technical support, while the Discovery Track will se 130 entrepreneurs get up to $5,000 each plus a year of business assistance.
Beneficiaries operate in sectors including agriculture, IT, fashion, hospitality, beauty, and manufacturing.
Okonjo-Iweala emphasized that Africa’s share of global digital trade is still under 1% and urged Nigeria’s Ministries of Communications, Industry, and Power to work together to close the connectivity gap, improve infrastructure, and empower women entrepreneurs.
“When women trade internationally, they earn almost three times more than those who sell locally,” she noted. “The WEIDE Fund gives Nigerian women the tools, skills, and market access to multiply those gains.”
Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, pledged government backing for the initiative, describing empathy as women’s “superpower” in creating impactful solutions.
