The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), in partnership with the Trade Facilitation Office (TFO) Canada, has officially launched the “Trade for Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth (TRISEG) Project” in Nigeria, aimed at strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the institutions that support them.
The five-year initiative, running from 2025 to 2030, is funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada and implemented by TFO Canada across 16 developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. The programme is designed to strengthen Trade Support Institutions (TSIs) while helping SMEs, particularly women-owned and women-led businesses and other under-represented groups, overcome barriers to growth and internationalisation.
Speaking at the official launch in Abuja, the President of ACCI, Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, PhD, said the initiative represented an important opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s business ecosystem by simultaneously building the capacity of institutions and improving the competitiveness of enterprises.
According to him, the partnership reflects ACCI’s commitment to creating an enabling environment in which Nigerian businesses can become more productive, competitive, resilient and capable of accessing local, regional and international markets.
“TRISEG provides an opportunity to strengthen the capacity of Trade Support Institutions to deliver more inclusive and gender-responsive services,” Obegolu said, stressing that the success of inclusive economic growth depends not only on creating businesses but also on equipping them to compete effectively in larger markets.
The TRISEG project is expected to directly target 200 SMEs in Nigeria, with 67 per cent owned or led by women and other under-represented groups. At the global level, the initiative will target 3,200 SMEs, including 2,133 SMEs owned or led by women and under-represented groups.
A major component of the initiative is the SME Climate Resilience Fund, which will provide support for technical assistance, digital resources, capacity building, training and the development of investment plans aimed at improving environmental sustainability and climate resilience among selected SMEs.
The ACCI President noted that the climate resilience component was particularly relevant to Nigerian businesses as enterprises increasingly need to combine commercial success with environmental responsibility and long-term resilience.
The launch also featured a Stakeholder Validation Workshop on the Nigeria Export Market Analysis and Institutional Capacity Assessment, providing an opportunity for Trade Support Institutions, government agencies, financial institutions, development partners, private-sector organisations and business membership organisations to examine and validate findings on the challenges confronting Nigerian SMEs.
Chief Obegolu urged stakeholders to use the workshop not merely to endorse existing findings but to identify practical solutions to barriers affecting SME access to international markets, including institutional constraints, financing gaps, digitalisation, capacity development and market access.
He also called for stronger linkages among SMEs, financial institutions, Trade Support Institutions and international buyers, stressing the need to translate the outcomes of the exercise into practical interventions with measurable results.
The President expressed appreciation to “TFO Canada and the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada” for their continued support for Nigerian businesses and institutions, noting that the partnership builds on the longstanding relationship between ACCI and TFO Canada.
He said ACCI remained committed to providing the institutional platform required to ensure the successful implementation of the initiative.
“We are not simply launching another project. We are strengthening an ecosystem,” Obegolu said, while encouraging stakeholders to engage in frank discussions, share practical experiences and conclude the process with clear priorities and actionable recommendations.
The 1st Deputy President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, who also serves as Chairman of the ACCI Business Entrepreneurship, Skills and Technology (BEST) Centre, lauded TFO Canada for identifying with the Centre in building the capacity of women and SME owners through continuous training, mentorship and sustained support.
He said the partnership had enabled the BEST Centre to provide the necessary support and opportunities to women entrepreneurs and Smaall and Medium-sized Enterprises, describing TFO Canada as a trusted and valued partner.
“We are able to provide the necessary support to this group of business owners because you have been a trusted partner. We believe this launch will further strengthen our collaboration and open up more opportunities for women entrepreneurs and SMEs,” he said.
The Director-General of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Mr Agabaidu Jideani, who welcomed the participants, stated that the TRISEG initiative would strengthen the capacity of Trade Support Institutions (TSIs) to provide gender-responsive services, including market intelligence, business coaching, export development, digital strategies, and connections with Canadian and international buyers.
He commended TFO Canada for its continued support for women-owned businesses and SMEs, noting that such interventions are critical to strengthening the capacity, competitiveness, and market access of businesses while also calling for sustained collaboration and partnership among stakeholders to further promote inclusive trade and economic opportunities for women and SMEs.
The launch brought together representatives of Trade Support Institutions, government agencies, financial institutions, development partners, private-sector organisations, business associations and organisations supporting women and other under-represented groups.
The event was coordinated by Dr Tinuke Temitope, Deputy Director-General of ACCI, who commended participants and expressed appreciation to the TFO Canada team for its support towards the successful launch of the initiative.
TFO Canada Executive Director, Steve Tipman, said the organisation was proud to support Nigerian SMEs in strengthening their export readiness and accessing new opportunities in international markets, describing TRISEG as a reflection of its longstanding partnership with Nigerian institutions and Global Affairs Canada.
Through the initiative, TFO Canada will also provide up-to-date trade information through its online platform, with an expected reach of more than 5,550 SME beneficiaries across participating countries.
The 16 countries participating in TRISEG are Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras and Peru.
The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry reaffirmed its commitment to working with TFO Canada, government institutions, development partners and the private sector to ensure that the TRISEG Project delivers tangible and sustainable opportunities for Nigerian SMEs, particularly women-led businesses and other under-represented enterprises.
Olayemi John-Mensah
ACCI Media & Strategy
