Zenith Bank Plc hosted the 10th edition of its International Trade Seminar themed “Unlocking Value and Harnessing Growth,” highlighting Nigeria’s non-oil export surge to $6.1 billion in 2025.
Zenith Bank Plc hosted the 10th edition of its annual International Trade Seminar on Non-Oil Export, gathering policymakers, regulators and industry leaders across Africa to advance strategies for economic diversification and local value addition.
Zenith Bank GMD/CEO Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji opened the seminar by honoring Founder Dr. Jim Ovia for establishing the initiative in 2015, while calling on stakeholders to capitalize on Nigeria’s expanding export metrics to build long-term economic value.
Held under the theme “Unlocking Value and Harnessing Growth,” the virtual seminar focused on moving Nigeria away from exporting raw commodities toward building competitive processing capability, strengthening trade infrastructure, and leveraging regional frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji emphasized that the seminar’s theme reflects a critical push to convert emerging opportunities into lasting national prosperity. Citing NEPC figures, she noted that non-oil exports hit a record $6.1 billion in 2025 an 11.5% increase from $5.46 billion in 2024 and a decade-long jump from $612 million while highlighting Zenith Bank’s support through AfCFTA partnerships, the SMARTAfCFTA portal, PAPSS integration and dedicated trade expansion backing.
Dame Umeoji commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for driving structural reforms that foster a business-friendly environment alongside CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso for monetary policies that have strengthened foreign exchange stability and restored market confidence.
She further urged stakeholders to accelerate national growth by shifting focus toward local value addition and exporting finished products rather than raw materials.
In her keynote address, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Jumoke Oduwole advocated for deeper trade and investment reforms, improved export infrastructure and expanded market access across Africa and globally, stressing that Nigeria must focus on retaining maximum value locally rather than merely increasing export volumes.
Dr. Oduwole mentioned the ministry’s core strategy which focuses on boosting competitive local production, expanding domestic processing, connecting businesses to larger markets and building the necessary financing and infrastructure to scale. Highlighting her role as Chair of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers since July, she noted that the real potential extends far beyond Africa’s market of 1.4 billion people and $3.4 trillion GDP.
She stressed that the core goal is empowering Nigerian companies to expand product sales, access new markets, and strengthen regional supply networks. Furthermore, she pointed out that Nigeria’s role as an AfCFTA digital trade co-champion positions the country to shape the continent’s evolving commercial landscape as digital trade opens fresh avenues for local enterprises to connect with African consumers.
She urged financial institutions to expand their scope from funding basic transactions to building total export capability while advising Nigerian businesses to prepare for intra-African trade through targeted investments in productivity, quality and skills. Additionally, Professor Benedict Oramah, Chair of FEDA’s Board of Directors and former President/Chairman of Afreximbank, commended the event’s theme as both apt and timely, emphasizing that the current economic landscape requires fresh thinking.
Professor Oramah emphasized that despite high global economic uncertainty, Africa faces a unique opportunity for ascendance. He argued that the strategic focus must shift from relying on external capital to building internal demand strengthening participation in global supply chains, self-financing trade and industry and creating domestic markets.
Mrs. Patricia Poku-Diaby, Founder and Executive Chair of Plot Enterprise Ghana Limited, commended Zenith Bank and its leadership for their decade-long commitment to driving Nigeria’s non-oil export agenda. Emphasizing the urgent need for economic transformation, she asserted that future prosperity will depend not on raw extraction or agriculture but on the capacity to process and transform those resources.
She stressed the imperative to transition from supplying raw materials to operating as producers, processors, manufacturers, exporters, and brand owners. To maximize economic returns, the primary strategy must focus on retaining and adding substantial value to products locally before exporting them.
Represented by Ms. Mujina Kaindama, Head of Trade Policy for UK Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, the UK Minister of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Rt. Hon. Florence Eshalomi, commended Zenith Bank for providing a vital platform to strengthen the Nigeria-UK trade relationship.
She emphasized the importance and growth potential of the UK-Nigeria trade relationship, praising Nigeria’s entrepreneurial talent and innovation. She noted that the key opportunity lies in moving up the value chain through processing, branding and manufacturing to boost returns, create jobs and drive sustainable economic growth.
Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, H.E. Wamkele Mene placed the private sector at the center of Africa’s economic restructuring. Commending Zenith Bank’s initiative, he noted that the seminar directly advances the critical objective of shifting the continent away from raw commodity exports toward accelerated industrialization and local value addition.
He emphasized that the true measure of AfCFTA’s success relies on the private sector’s ability to use the agreement to enter new markets, expand investments, build productive capacity and generate employment throughout Africa rather than the mere signing of legal protocols.
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The panel looked at the main obstacles and growth opportunities for Nigerian exporters. The speakers focused on cutting through trade red tape, processing raw materials locally to boost their value getting products up to global standards using reliable market research and securing the right loans and financial backing so export businesses can grow.
Launched in 2015 to unlock Nigeria’s non-oil export potential, the Zenith Bank International Trade Seminar on Non-Oil Export marks a decade of continuous advocacy. Over the past ten years, the bank has consistently supported sector growth by opening new market channels and providing exporters with essential financing, trade incentives and hands-on operational support.
The 2026 seminar reached a global audience, streaming live across Zoom, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X and TikTok that attracted thousands of participants from 97 countries. Marking a full decade of advocacy, the tenth edition concluded with a renewed pledge to equip Nigerian businesses with the strategic tools, global partnerships and capital required to excel in regional and international markets.
