Wema Bank has concluded the first cohort of its Wema Export Trade Academy, empowering over 40 Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with essential skills, insights, and resources for entering and thriving in the global market.
The Academy, which held in Lagos, highlighted the bank’s commitment to enhancing Nigeria’s economic landscape by opening new global opportunities for local businesses.
The Wema Export Trade Academy provides hands-on support for SMEs tackling critical challenges in international trade.
Led by top industry facilitators like Dr. Bamidele Ayemibo, renowned as the “Export Doctor” and a distinguished authority in international trade education across Africa, and Dr. Nduka Udeh, founder of Shoptomydoor and a pioneer in cost-effective global logistics and procurement services, the five-day sessions delved into key areas of export documentation, compliance, financial planning, and risk management.
Participants gained a comprehensive understanding of the export process, including the financial needs of exporters, global buyer expectations, and identifying potential international buyers.
As a result, these SMEs now have the tools to approach global markets with greater knowledge, confidence, and strategy.
Reflecting on the Academy’s impact, Dr. Ayemibo emphasized the importance of sustainable practices and real-world insights: “What Wema Bank is trying to do is support SME businesses within the export space and those that are trying to come in, and that is what we have been doing over the past 5 days. The goal is to help those already doing exports to do it in a better and more sustainable way. The essence of the conversations we have had in the past few days is for them to learn and implement; some of them who are here are already exporting, and with the training they have now learned, they realized they are now doing some things wrongly and can do things better.” He said.
Division Head of Operations, General Services, and BPR at Wema Bank, Mr. Tajudeen Bakare, echoed this commitment, stating, “We have over 40 participants from all over Nigeria in attendance, training them and equipping them with how to access financing for their export businesses.
“The SME businesses have established relationships with us; we are going to handhold them and grow their businesses. We are not just training and leaving them to struggle for themselves; we are going to equip them with the necessary resources, both financial and skills, that they require. It is going to be a partnership that begins with them.”
One of the participants at the program, Mr. Dele Badejo, a longtime importer, said the Academy has been a transformative experience for him. “I have been in import for a few years, and I’m just going to start exporting. The scarcity of dollars has made me want to embrace export and for me, Wema Bank is doing a very laudable thing, because I see a lot of opportunities in export, looking ahead of crude oil in Nigeria there are better opportunities and even bigger opportunities that can create a lot of value chain for the country and the people also, I want to appreciate Wema Bank for thinking out of the box to bring out this initiative because I would be able to fund my export business, This initiative is also very important for Nigeria as it will bring a lot of opportunities for many people because now I will be able to employ more people and for me, it’s an eye opener and I want to thank the management of Wema Bank for opening our eyes to these opportunities..”
Through ongoing partnerships, Wema Bank is committed to providing tailored financial support, enabling SMEs to scale and compete internationally. By helping them secure funding, streamline processes, and connect with international buyers, Wema Bank is setting these SMEs on a path toward impactful growth and expansion. This commitment goes beyond training, as the bank continues to be a dedicated partner in their export journey.
As the Wema Export Trade Academy wraps up its first cohort, Wema Bank’s commitment to supporting SME growth only grows stronger. With plans to make future cohorts more extensive and accessible to participants across Nigeria, the Bank will also provide access to global networks, financial resources, and advisory services to ensure long-term success in the export landscape.
