The United States has trained 200 young Nigerian entrepreneurs to improve their ability to compete in local and international markets through the U.S. Alumni-Led Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund Manufacturing Programme.
The eight-month programme, which ran from January to August, equipped young entrepreneurs and women-led agro businesses with skills in regulatory compliance, business development and market access.
The 2026 cohort graduated in Lagos on Wednesday, with the initiative aimed at helping small-scale businesses prepare their products for both Nigerian and American markets.
Led by Mandela Washington Fellowship alumna and Chief Executive Officer of Moppet Foods, Roberta Edu, the programme was supported by the U.S. Department of State through the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Acting Consul General of the United States in Lagos, Julie McKay, said the initiative supports the U.S. Mission’s goal of expanding trade and investment between Nigeria and the United States.
“Programmes like this help young, up-and-coming entrepreneurs get their products ready for market here in Nigeria and in the United States. That is the two-way trade that we are trying to increase,” McKay said.
She noted that the programme demonstrates how alumni of U.S. exchange programmes can contribute to economic growth by sharing knowledge and supporting emerging entrepreneurs.
McKay added that graduates would continue to access resources through the U.S. Mission’s network of 30 American Spaces across Nigeria, including business training, internet access and other support services to help them grow their enterprises.
She described the entrepreneurs as important contributors to Nigeria’s economic future, noting that they were creating businesses, generating jobs and supporting sustainable economic development.
“The goal is simple. We are trying to strengthen commercial ties between the United States and Nigeria by supporting entrepreneurs. We want to make sure that you can compete, innovate and succeed in both local and global marketplaces,” she said.
The programme convener, Edu, said the initiative focused on helping small-scale agropreneurs meet regulatory standards required to expand their businesses and access larger markets.
She explained that many small businesses struggle to scale because they lack proper documentation, licences and compliance knowledge.
“Most small-scale businesses operate without licences, and we are here to change that so they can scale with confidence and compliance,” Edu said.
She disclosed that 62 products from participating businesses had been uploaded on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) portal, with some already receiving certification.
She added that 32 products had secured U.S. Food and Drug Administration registration, while some businesses had been registered on Walmart and Amazon platforms in the United States to expand their reach.
Edu said improving compliance among small businesses would strengthen Nigeria’s economy, improve food safety and help entrepreneurs compete in larger markets.
One of the beneficiaries, Chief Executive Officer of Storehouses & Barns Ltd, Cornelia Odiwanor, said the programme helped her overcome challenges that had limited her company’s growth.
“Before this programme, we lacked the information, production facilities and machines needed to scale. After the programme, I have secured a place where I can operate for about a year before acquiring my own equipment,” she said.
Odiwanor, whose company produces healthy snacks and grain-based food products without preservatives, said the programme had provided the support and knowledge needed to position her business for future expansion.