WTO, GIZ launch ‘TradeConnect’ to empower young Nigerian entrepreneurs

In a major boost for Nigeria’s emerging exporters, the inaugural edition of TradeConnect was launched in Lagos last week, aiming to empower 50 young entrepreneurs with the skills and networks needed to thrive in global markets.

The two-day training programme, organised by Eric Andrew, WTO Young Trade leader, in partnership with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), highlighted Germany’s strategic role in strengthening regional trade through targeted youth empowerment under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Speaking at the opening session, Bernard Tayoh, head of project, GIZ Support to the ECOWAS Commission in the Implementation of AfCFTA, emphasised the programme’s broader significance beyond economic metrics.

“Trade is more than economic growth, it is transformation,” Tayoh said. “Through our ECOWAS AfCFTA support project, we are committed to breaking barriers for young businesses. ‘TradeConnect’ is exactly the kind of initiative that brings the benefits of targeted trade policy to life, empowering real people with real tools to access real markets.”

Eric Andrew, the event’s convener, explained his motivation for launching TradeConnect.
“As a WTO Young Trade Leader, my mission is to localize global trade knowledge and connect Nigerian entrepreneurs to international opportunities,” Andrew said. “TradeConnect is our way of saying: Nigerian youth are ready, and with the right support, like what GIZ is providing, we can compete globally and win.”

Participants underwent intensive sessions covering international trade regulations, market access strategies, export branding, compliance standards, trade finance, and the use of digital tools to expand into new markets. The second day focused on key trade agreements including the AfCFTA, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), and the European Union (EU) trade frameworks.

Eze Chidinma Mary, team lead of FarmCAS, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “It’s been amazing particularly for the opportunity to connect with various stakeholders who are involved in the process of export. As an agropreneur, I have experienced quite some bottlenecks exporting. With what I have learnt at this program, I am better empowered.”

The TradeConnect initiative builds on GIZ’s longstanding commitment to strengthening regional value chains, promoting trade integration, and fostering inclusive economic growth across Nigeria and West Africa.

The support to the ECOWAS Commission in the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) project, under which TradeConnect falls, is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union, and implemented by GIZ.