Nigeria’s Trade Minister and WTO Director-General, Dr Ngozi Okonjo‑Iweala, met with President Bola Tinubu at the BRICS Leaders Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to celebrate a major win for Nigerian women in business.
Okonjo‑Iweala posted on X: “Catching up with H.E President Tinubu at the BRICS Leaders Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Talking about Nigeria’s successful bid for the WTO‑ITC WEIDE Fund, designed to support women in digital trade. This fund will help scale up women‑owned enterprises in the digital space. Congratulations Nigeria!”
The WEIDE (Women in Digital Economy) Fund is a joint initiative by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and International Trade Centre (ITC). It aims to empower women entrepreneurs by improving access to digital platforms, training, and trade opportunities.
Nigeria’s successful bid for the fund means that women in tech and digital businesses will gain support to grow their businesses, helping to close the gender gap in technology and international trade.
The BRICS Summit, which brings together Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, provided a high-profile stage for this announcement. President Tinubu and Dr Okonjo‑Iweala used the opportunity to highlight Nigeria’s commitment to empowering women and promoting digital trade.
The WEIDE Fund is expected to enhance the skills and visibility of women-led ventures, giving them a stronger footing in Africa’s rapidly growing digital economy.