ITFA, UNDP Support Nearly 600 MSMEs for Global Market Access, Sustainability

The International Trade Facilitation Association (ITFA), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (UNDP GEF-SGP), has said nearly 600 Nigerian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have been equipped with the knowledge, business structures and market linkages needed to become sustainable and export-ready.

Speaking during the digital unveiling of the Nature Positive Directory held at Envoy Hotel in Abuja on Thursday, the Trade Ambassador of ITFA, Prince Collins Ezeruaku said the association’s research showed that the failure of many businesses in Nigeria is not primarily due to lack of funding, but poor business planning and weak operational structures.

According to him, many entrepreneurs lack the business models and structures required to consistently create, deliver and capture value in the marketplace.

He explained that the project focuses on making businesses visible, investible and sustainable through continuous engagement, mentorship and strategic guidance.

Ezeruaku disclosed that about 400 SMEs are currently captured under the ITFA programme, adding that 30 businesses had their registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission facilitated free of charge.

He also revealed that participating businesses received professional training worth about ₦750,000 at no cost, alongside practical mentorship, market exposure and connections to relevant institutions.

“We are helping these businesses become visible and investible. We are providing continuous support, practical mentorship and connecting them to markets. In another six months, we expect to present measurable results on the progress made,” he said.

Also speaking, the National Coordinator of UNDP GEF-SGP, Dr. Ibironke Olubamishe, said the Support to Potential and Established Nature-Positive MSMEs (SPENM) project is aimed at reducing poverty and unemployment by helping environmentally sustainable businesses grow into competitive enterprises.

She noted that the initiative supports the Federal Government’s efforts to create an enabling environment for small and medium enterprises while strengthening local capacity, improving market access and promoting compliance with international green and sustainability standards.

According to Olubamishe, the project is designed to move Nigerian MSMEs beyond dependence on donor funding by preparing them for long-term commercial success and participation in international trade.

The Media Strategist of ITFA, Okiemuta Olori, said the initiative was developed after discovering that many grant-supported businesses failed to survive once donor funding ended because they lacked business sustainability strategies.

She explained that beneficiaries were trained on business planning, business model development and export requirements, including product certification and international compliance standards.

Olori lamented that many Nigerian products lose value in foreign markets because exporters are unaware of certification requirements, resulting in neighbouring countries rebranding and exporting Nigerian products as their own.

She said the programme has helped nearly 600 businesses develop business plans, register their enterprises and establish the capacity to engage international buyers.

According to him, the initiative is also helping entrepreneurs understand the true value of their products, improve pricing and position Nigerian goods competitively in global markets.