The Made in Africa Brands Ambassador (MABA), in partnership with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund and the Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, has launched the SheExports Project, an ambitious initiative aimed at equipping 10,000 women entrepreneurs in Lagos State with the skills, funding access, market connections and technical support needed to participate successfully in international trade.
The programme, which will run from 2026 to 2031, seeks to increase the number of women-led businesses engaged in exports by providing practical training, digital tools, access to international markets and opportunities to connect with investors and financial institutions.
Speaking on the initiative, MABA Chief Executive Officer, Flora Mbeledeogu, said the project was created to tackle some of the major challenges preventing women entrepreneurs from expanding beyond local markets.
According to her, limited access to markets and persistent logistics bottlenecks remain significant barriers to export growth across Africa, particularly for women-owned businesses.
She noted that despite the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area, many women entrepreneurs have yet to fully benefit from intra-African trade due to difficulties in transporting goods efficiently across the continent.
Mbeledeogu explained that businesses operating on the MABA platform frequently encounter situations where products destined for African markets must first pass through distant countries because of inadequate direct cargo and shipping connections within Africa.
She stressed that stronger collaboration between governments and the private sector could help improve trade infrastructure and logistics networks, making exports more accessible and attractive to women entrepreneurs.
The six-week SheExports training programme, scheduled to run from May 27 to June 27, 2026, will conclude with a major conference on June 30. Participants will receive training in critical areas including export procedures, international trade, trade finance, supply chain management, freight forwarding, customs regulations, export documentation, rules of origin, financial literacy, funding access and investment readiness.
Recognising the growing role of technology in business, the programme will also provide training on generative artificial intelligence for digital marketing and business growth, helping participants leverage digital tools to reach international customers.
According to Mbeledeogu, the initiative is designed to move beyond theory by providing practical support that enables women entrepreneurs to understand export requirements, meet international standards and access trusted logistics providers.
She added that the organisers have brought together key institutions involved in export facilitation to ensure participants receive hands-on guidance throughout the export process.
Among the organisations supporting the initiative are the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture, the Women’s Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture, and UPS.
Commercial banks, development finance institutions and international partners are also expected to participate, creating opportunities for women-owned businesses to connect directly with funding providers and investors.
Mbeledeogu further revealed that a United States-based traceability and sustainability company will participate in the conference to help entrepreneurs understand global compliance requirements, product traceability systems and anti-counterfeiting measures that are increasingly important in international trade.
She described SheExports as a comprehensive export support programme that covers every stage of the export value chain, from production and processing to packaging, compliance, logistics and market access.
For MSMEs, particularly women-led enterprises in agriculture, manufacturing, fashion, beauty, food processing and creative industries, the initiative could open new pathways to international markets, improve export readiness and strengthen their ability to compete globally.