Oduwole Calls For Export-Led Growth, Praises Nigerian Firms’ Industrial Innovation

Oduwole Calls for Export-Led Growth, Praises Nigerian Firms’ Industrial Innovation Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, has urged Nigerian businesses to embrace innovation, investment, and continental integration as key drivers of export-led growth, saying local companies have the capacity to compete successfully in regional and global markets.

Speaking during a stakeholder engagement visit to the manufacturing facilities of SecureID in Lagos and Nairobi, Oduwole said Nigeria’s private sector must position itself to take advantage of opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area and the broader global economy. According to the minister, Nigerian enterprises can drive sustainable economic growth by expanding exports, building local industrial capacity, and investing in technology-driven production. She noted that innovation and industrial competitiveness will be critical if the country is to create jobs, increase foreign exchange earnings, and strengthen its position within Africa’s evolving economic landscape. Oduwole highlighted the achievements of SecureID, describing the company as an example of indigenous industrial excellence capable of competing internationally. The firm manufactures smart cards, digital identity solutions, and secure technology products for markets across Africa and beyond. She said such enterprises demonstrate the potential of Nigerian businesses to move from serving domestic markets to becoming global players. The minister emphasized that the African Continental Free Trade Area offers a significant opportunity for Nigerian manufacturers and exporters to access a larger market of more than one billion consumers across the continent. She argued that businesses that invest in productivity, innovation, and quality standards will be better positioned to benefit from the agreement.She further stated that the Federal Government is implementing policies aimed at improving trade facilitation, expanding industrial production, and supporting non-oil exports. These efforts form part of a broader strategy to diversify Nigeria’s economy away from dependence on crude oil revenues and encourage value-added manufacturing. Industry stakeholders welcomed the minister’s remarks, noting that export-led industrialization remains one of the most viable pathways for accelerating economic growth and job creation. Experts, however, stressed the need for improved infrastructure, lower production costs, and better access to finance if Nigerian firms are to compete effectively in international markets. The visit forms part of Oduwole’s wider engagement with businesses and manufacturers across the country as the government seeks to increase non-oil exports, strengthen regional trade links, and attract investment into strategic sectors of the economy. Analysts say the minister’s emphasis on exports reflects growing efforts by the government to leverage AfCFTA and other trade initiatives to expand Nigeria’s industrial base. Recent reforms, including digital trade facilitation measures and efforts to streamline import and export processes, are expected to support this objective.

• Jumoke Oduwole says Nigerian businesses can compete globally through innovation, investment, and regional integration.
• The minister praised SecureID as an example of indigenous industrial success.
• She urged businesses to leverage opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
• Government policies are focused on boosting non-oil exports, industrial productivity, and investment.
• Experts say export-led growth could strengthen Nigeria’s economy, create jobs, and enhance competitiveness across Africa and beyond.