The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria supported a dynamic delegation of women and youth-led enterprises to participate in BIASHARA AFRIKA 2026 in Lomé, Togo, as part of its broader commitment to advancing inclusive trade and entrepreneurship under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The participation was facilitated through UNDP Nigeria’s #HerAfCFTA initiative, which seeks to strengthen the capacity of women-owned and youth-led businesses to access regional markets, scale production, attract investment, and participate competitively in intra-African trade.

BIASHARA AFRIKA 2026 brought together entrepreneurs, investors, manufacturers, policymakers, buyers, and trade institutions from across the continent to unlock new pathways for African commerce and industrial growth. For Nigerian businesses, the platform presents a strategic opportunity to showcase locally made products, forge cross-border partnerships, deepen market intelligence, and position their brands within Africa’s rapidly expanding single market of over 1.4 billion people.

The Nigerian delegation reflected the diversity, innovation, and export potential of the country’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) ecosystem, spanning fashion, agribusiness, food processing, beauty, wellness, and creative manufacturing sectors.

Among the participating businesses were:

• Xpressionalé Designs, an African fashion brand promoting indigenous textiles such as Adire through wearable art and vocational empowerment.
• Zone A Limited, a Nigerian fashion manufacturing company producing handmade bags, footwear, and accessories using African fabrics and leather.
• House of Helizah, a contemporary African luxury fashion brand specializing in handcrafted Adire and Asooke designs.
• Jodriela Concepts Limited, a food processing company focused on healthy, shelf-stable products sourced from local farmers using sustainable production systems.
• Joeyemmy Ventures Nigeria Limited, producers of natural food products including healthy seasonings, ginger tea, and nutritious food mixes.
• Jaunty Natural Organics Ltd, an export-driven company producing plant-based food and skincare products with international certifications and private-label capabilities.
• Dr Purejoie Skincare, a Nigerian doctor-developed skincare brand combining locally sourced botanicals with globally competitive production standards.
• Moreni Woman, a contemporary fashion label focused on scalable African fashion and regional retail expansion.
• Granels Manufacturing Limited (Damife Naturals), a sustainable beauty company producing plant-based skincare products from ethically sourced African ingredients.
• Mayal Agricultural Services Co. Ltd, an agribusiness company advancing food security and agricultural value-chain development through locally processed food products.

UNDP Nigeria supported participating businesses to unlock new continental growth opportunities by facilitating strategic engagements with distributors, buyers, investors, and industry leaders across Africa. Through BIASHARA AFRIKA 2026, the entrepreneurs explored export opportunities, strengthened their understanding of AfCFTA-enabled market access, gained insights into regional consumer trends, and built long-term partnerships in manufacturing, retail, private-label production, and regional value chain integration.

Through initiatives such as #HerAfCFTA, UNDP Nigeria continues to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems, expand access to markets and trade opportunities, and position Nigerian MSMEs as drivers of industrialization, job creation, innovation, and inclusive economic transformation across Africa.

As Africa accelerates implementation of the AfCFTA, platforms such as BIASHARA AFRIKA are expected to play an increasingly important role in connecting African producers to African markets, reducing trade barriers, and unlocking the full potential of intra-African commerce.

For media enquiries:

Christabel Chanda-Ginsberg | Public Engagement, Outreach & Partnerships Lead | christabel.chanda-ginsberg@undp.org

For programme enquiries:

Edith-Casely Fordjoe | Programme Analyst – Inclusive Growth | edith-casely.fordjoe@undp.org