{
  "id": 11115836,
  "title": "Wema Bank Equips Nigerian Businesses for Global Trade Through Export Trade Academy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/wema-bank-equips-nigerian-businesses-for-global-trade-through-export",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-01T05:08:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/10/01/wema-bank-equips-nigerian-businesses-for-global-trade-through-export-trade-academy/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Bennett Oghifo, the Managing Director of Wema Bank, has reinforced his bank's dedication to empowering Nigerian businesses for global competitiveness by successfully concluding a two-day Export Trade Academy (WETA) in Lagos. The training, which gathered over 500 business owners, equipped them with essential knowledge, skills, and resources to effectively participate in international trade. This marked the second edition of the WEMA Export Trade Academy (WETA). The event brought together a diverse group of participants, including exporters, SMEs, commodity aggregators, trade associations, regulators, and industry professionals. Throughout the intensive two-day programme, participants were immersed in practical sessions focused on navigating the complexities of the export market, from identifying lucrative opportunities and meeting international buyer expectations to handling documentation, compliance, financing, logistics, and risk management. Delegations from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), among other key stakeholders, joined forces to guide the participants. Oluwole Ajimisinmi, the Deputy Managing Director of Wema Bank, emphasized Nigeria's vast entrepreneurial potential and the need for businesses to possess the right combination of knowledge, access, financing, and partnerships to successfully compete in global markets. He highlighted that WEMA Bank acknowledges the potential for Nigerian businesses in global trade by providing them with the necessary knowledge, connections, and financial support. Deputy Director at NAFDAC, Oluseyi Sanyaolu, underscored the significance of comprehending the regulatory processes and institutions involved in exporting Nigerian products, stating that initiatives like WETA play a crucial role in equipping businesses with the knowledge and guidance required to navigate the export journey and compete confidently in global markets. For participants, the program offered an invaluable opportunity to reassess their businesses through an international trade lens and better comprehend the steps necessary to bring locally developed products and services into new markets. Dele Badejo, an importer exploring export market opportunities, described the program as a crucial step in recognizing the potential for Nigerian businesses to diversify into export. Tajudeen Bakare, the Divisional Executive at Wema Bank, emphasized the bank's commitment to the continued engagement with participating businesses beyond the academy, aiming to provide ongoing support, financial assistance, and non-financial resources to help them grow. Wema Bank views the Export Trade Academy as part of a broader approach to SME development that goes beyond financial products, focusing on building the capacity and knowledge businesses need to thrive in the global marketplace.",
  "summary": "Bennett Oghifo Wema Bank has reinforced its commitment to empowering Nigerian businesses for global competitiveness with the successful completion of a two-day Export Trade Academy. The training held in Lagos",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}