Wema Bank Plc has reinforced its commitment to empowering Nigerian businesses for global competitiveness following the successful completion of the second edition of its Export Trade Academy in Lagos. The two-day intensive program equipped over 500 business owners, exporters, commodity aggregators, trade associations, and regulatory professionals with critical knowledge, skills, and strategic resources required to participate effectively in international trade. The session focused on identifying viable export opportunities, meeting international buyer expectations, managing documentation, and mastering compliance, financing, logistics, and risk management.
The workshop provided participants with direct guidance from seasoned international trade experts alongside key regulatory bodies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Ports Authority, and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. Deputy Managing Director of Wema Bank Plc, Oluwole Ajimisinmi, noted that while Nigeria possesses immense entrepreneurial potential, local businesses often require the right combination of structural access, financing, and market intelligence to thrive beyond domestic borders.
Ajimisinmi stated that Wema Bank recognises that the potential of Nigerian businesses in global trade can only be fully realised when they have access to the right knowledge, the right connections, and the right financial support. He explained that the Wema Export Trade Academy brings these critical elements together, and the bank's ambition is to create a platform that helps businesses understand the export ecosystem, connect with the right stakeholders, and build the capacity required to participate sustainably in international trade.
A Deputy Director at NAFDAC, Oluseyi Sanyaolu, highlighted that understanding official processes and quality standards remains mandatory for taking local products abroad. She commended the academy for bridging information gaps and providing actionable guidance that enables small and medium-scale enterprises to compete confidently on the global stage. Participating business owners noted that the academy provided a fresh framework for assessing their operations against international standards.
Dele Badejo, an attendee, described the event as a pivotal stepping stone for local importers looking to diversify into non-oil exports. Reaffirming the institution's long-term strategy, Divisional Executive at Wema Bank, Tajudeen Bakare, emphasized that the bank's relationship with the cohort extends far beyond classroom instruction. He explained that Wema Bank intends to partner continuously with the participating enterprises by offering tailored financial and non-financial support at every phase of their growth trajectory.
Bakare said that the bank's goal is not to end engagement with the participating businesses at the completion of the Academy but to continue working with them, understanding what they require at different stages, and providing the relevant financial and non-financial support that can help them grow. The initiative reflects Wema Bank's broader corporate approach toward SME development, which moves beyond standard banking services to actively construct sustainable capacity within Nigeria's commercial ecosystem.
By expanding the reach of the Wema Export Trade Academy, the financial institution continues to consolidate its role as a key catalyst for local business expansion, strengthening domestic operations while building the international trade capabilities needed to elevate Nigerian brands worldwide. The academy has equipped business owners with the knowledge and skills required to participate effectively in international trade, and Wema Bank's commitment to empowering Nigerian businesses is evident in its efforts to provide the right combination of structural access, financing, and market intelligence.
Key points
- Wema Bank's Export Trade Academy has equipped over 500 business owners with knowledge and skills for global trade.
- The academy provides a platform for businesses to understand the export ecosystem and connect with the right stakeholders.
- Wema Bank intends to partner continuously with participating enterprises, offering tailored financial and non-financial support at every phase of their growth trajectory.
