Over 80 women entrepreneurs benefited from the She Connnect Africa 2025 training, which was designed to unlock cross-border trade opportunities for women under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The three-day event, which was held from 6-8 August, featured expert-led sessions, practical group exercises, and high-impact business clinics aimed at helping women entrepreneurs structure their businesses, understand regulatory frameworks, and position themselves for export and growth within Africa’s integrated market.
At the end of the event, the organisers said, “We designed this workshop to be deeply practical.
“From understanding tariff structures to accessing finance, we ensured that women entrepreneurs were left with actionable tools to scale their businesses beyond borders.”
Participants engaged in interactive sessions covering various topics, including trade in goods and services, business registration processes, tax compliance, and navigating AfCFTA’s tariff schedules. Data protection was focused on building trust in the digital economy. The event also emphasised the importance of women-led business clusters, digital platforms, and inclusive value chains.
A key highlight was the hands-on support provided through business clinics. The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) offered on-the-spot resolution of registration and compliance issues, while Parallex Bank guided entrepreneurs through SME loan options, financial planning, and access to credit. Some participants also received critical guidance from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on becoming tax-compliant and positioning their businesses for public and private sector funding.
“I’ve had issues with my business registration for over a year. CAC helped me fix it in one day,” said one participant. “That alone made this workshop worth attending.”
The workshop featured a diverse lineup of high-level speakers and facilitators from institutions including the Bank of Industry (BOI), SMEDAN, NEPC, Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), and several successful women entrepreneurs who shared their lived experiences navigating trade and business growth.
SheConnectsAfrica is funded by Germany through the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, through the Support to the ECOWAS Commission in the Implementation of the AfCFTA Programme. The initiative is delivered with the ECOWAS Agricultural Trade Programme and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI).
“We are proud to support initiatives like SheConnectsAfrica that champion inclusive trade,” said Bernard Tayoh, Head of Programme, GIZ Support to the ECOWAS Commission. “When women thrive, economies thrive.”
The workshop concluded with participants developing action plans, identifying next steps for formalising their businesses, and exploring AfCFTA trade opportunities. Many expressed deep appreciation for the insights, tools, and practical support they received, describing the experience as eye-opening and transformative.
SheConnectsAfrica is part of a growing movement to build inclusive, gender-responsive trade ecosystems across Africa.
