How Zenith Bank Is Helping Nigeria Scale Non-Oil Exports to $6.1 Billion and Beyond

Zenith Bank 10th International Trade Seminar: Strategy To Grow Nigeria Non-Oil Exports 2026

At its 10th International Trade Seminar, Zenith Bank outlined strategies to scale Nigeria’s non-oil exports. Leaders discussed AfCFTA, value addition, financing, and how exports hit a record $6.1B in 2025.

For 10 years, Zenith Bank Plc  has been asking one question at its International Trade Seminar: _How can Nigeria make more money from what it sells to the world, without oil?

On Tuesday, August 25, 2026, the Bank hosted the 10th edition of its International Trade Seminar on Non-Oil Export* virtually. The theme: Unlocking Value and Harnessing Growth.

And this time, the conversation wasn’t just about exporting more. It was about exporting smarter.

Nigeria’s Non-Oil Exports Hit Record $6.1 Billion

The numbers are finally moving.

According to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council,  Nigeria’s non-oil exports reached $6.1 billion in 2025,  That’s up 11.5% from $5.46 billion in 2024.

To put it in perspective: a decade ago in 2015, the figure was just $612 million.

*Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, OON*, Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank, said the growth shows the advocacy is working. She paid tribute to the Bank’s Founder, *Dr. Jim Ovia, CFR*, who started the seminar in 2015.

“Our theme is not just a slogan. It speaks to the opportunities before us and the need to translate our collective efforts into sustainable economic value,” Umeoji said.

She also announced Zenith Bank’s partnership with the *AfCFTA Secretariat* to build the *SMARTAfCFTA portal* and the Bank’s integration with the *Pan-African Payment and Settlement System* to make cross-border payments easier for exporters.

Umeoji commended President *Bola Ahmed Tinubu* for economic reforms and CBN Governor *Olayemi Cardoso* for FX stability. But her key message: Nigeria must stop exporting raw materials and start exporting finished products.

Produce More In Nigeria, Process More In Nigeria

The keynote speaker, *Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, MFR*, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, and current Chair of the *AfCFTA Council of Ministers*, laid out the new playbook.

“The question before us now is not simply how to export more, but how to retain more value in Nigeria from everything we export,” she said.

Her 4-point focus:
1. *Produce more competitively in Nigeria*
2. *Process more in Nigeria*
3. *Connect Nigerian businesses to bigger markets*
4. *Fix financing, infrastructure and trade systems*

With Africa’s market at *1.4 billion people and $3.4 trillion GDP*, Oduwole said Nigeria’s role as an AfCFTA digital trade co-champion means we can lead how businesses sell across the continent.

She also called on banks to go beyond financing export transactions to *financing export capability*.

*Big Ideas From Trade Experts at the Seminar*

*On Africa financing itself:*

*Prof. Benedict Oramah, GCON*, Chair of FEDA and former Afreximbank President, said the global economy is shifting.
> “The question is whether Africa, and Nigeria within it, can build her own internal demand, participate in global supply chains, and create her own markets.”

*On value addition:*

*Patricia Poku-Diaby*, Founder of Plot Enterprise Ghana, was direct:
“The future of our economy will not be determined by what we grow or mine, but by what we transform. We need to move from suppliers of raw materials to owners of strong African brands.”

*On UK-Nigeria trade:*

Representing the UK government, *Mujina Kaindama* said the biggest opportunity is moving “further up the value chain” to create branded, manufactured, and agricultural goods that create jobs.

*On AfCFTA:*

*Wamkele Mene*, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, said the deal will only work if the private sector uses it.
> “The success of AfCFTA will be measured by how our private sector can leverage it to access new markets and create jobs.”

*What Government and Business Leaders Agreed To Do*

The seminar had 2 panels that got practical:

*Public Sector Panel*

NEXIM, Nigeria Customs, NPA, CBN, NEPC and Neroli Tech committed to:
– Faster trade facilitation and customs clearance
– Port and logistics reforms
– Better funding access for exporters

*Private Sector Panel*

CEOs from *Dangote Group, Starlink Global, Psaltry International, Lelook Nigeria* and others discussed:
– Removing trade barriers
– Product certification and quality
– Market intelligence
– Structured financing to scale

*Why Zenith Bank’s 10-Year Push Matters*

Launched in 2015, the Zenith Bank International Trade Seminar was created to drive action on non-oil exports.

10 years later, the Bank says it will keep backing exporters with *financing, incentives, and market access*.

The 2026 edition streamed live on Zoom, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X and TikTok, with thousands joining from *97 countries*.

The message to end the decade where it started: Nigerian businesses need the *tools, partnerships and capital* to win in African and global markets.

If Nigeria can move from raw cocoa to chocolate, from crude shea to cosmetics, and from garments to global brands, the $6.1 billion figure is just the beginning.