The Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Maryam Katagum said women are estimated to account for about 70 percent of informal cross border trades in Africa.
The Minister revealed this on Tuesday in her keynote address at the Formal Launch and Inauguration ceremony of Association of Women in Trade and Agriculture (AWITA) in Abuja.
The minister who was represented by the Deputy Director, Trade and Investment, Mrs Chioma Fidel said, that government is committed to achieve the agenda of economic diversification and creation of an enabling environment for the Nigerian women.
Fidel further stated the achievements of the ministry by the current administration in which Nigeria has just moved in 39 places on the lather of 2020 World Bank ease of doing business of 131 out of 170.
“Additionally, the reports which was the list of 24th of October 2019 indicated that Nigeria has been ranked one of the ten most improved economy of the world and one of only two African countries to make highly exclusive list”. She stated.
Fidel, who also spoke on the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) said it is a step in the right direction to encourage and assist member states especially Nigeria women to expand their trading activities as well as other economic missions.
The National President of AWITA, Mrs Ruth Abraham Agbo in her welcome address said it is time to change the narrative of relegating women to the background in Nigeria adding that the majority of small farmers and SMEs owners are women.