Enugu – Nigeria, October 29, 2025: The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has urged South-East Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to embrace the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) as a strategic pathway to scale up their businesses and expand into regional markets.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu made the call during a one-day sensitisation workshop on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ECOWAS National Unit in Enugu. Themed “Increasing Intra-Regional Trade Through ETLS,” the event aimed to equip business owners with knowledge on how to access ECOWAS trade benefits.
She described the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme as a timely initiative that directly addresses the need for regional integration, expanded cross-border trade, and empowerment of SMEs across the South-East. According to Ojukwu, the workshop was designed to raise awareness among manufacturers and entrepreneurs on the immense benefits of ETLS, including access to new markets and the generation of foreign exchange.
Highlighting the vital role of SMEs in Nigeria’s economic growth, Ojukwu described them as the engine of innovation, job creation, and inclusive prosperity. She stressed that strengthening SMEs through the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme was not only a local concern but a regional economic necessity.
“As the oldest operational trade policy of ECOWAS, the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme underpins the free movement of goods and services, complements the protocol on the free movement of persons, and supports the broader African Continental Free Trade framework,” she said.
The Minister further noted that the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme serves as both a gateway and a test case for Africa’s economic renaissance, emphasizing that Nigeria must lead this integration effort. “True success,” she said, “lies not only in Abuja or Lagos but in how effectively our local entrepreneurs and manufacturers can thrive within the regional market.”
She added that the sensitisation was about democratizing opportunities and equipping SMEs with knowledge and networks to transcend local limitations and embrace the broader West African marketplace under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also commended Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, for promoting innovation and enterprise in line with ECOWAS objectives. She described Enugu as a model of how the South-East can align local economic dynamism with regional and continental trade ambitions.
Governor Mbah, represented by Deputy Governor Ifeanyi Ossai, acknowledged the importance of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme in supporting local manufacturing. He, however, cautioned that globalisation should not be allowed to undermine local businesses, stressing the need for fair trade practices and strong infrastructural support.
He urged ECOWAS and member states to develop dedicated financing schemes for SMEs beyond commercial bank loans to enhance their participation in the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme.
The President of the South-East Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (SECCIMA), Mr. Humphrey Ngonadi, represented by the Director-General, Dr. Daniel Ochi, commended the Minister and the ministry for bringing the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme sensitisation to the region. He pledged to spread the message to all 17 city chambers across the South-East to ensure wide adoption.
Similarly, the President of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Mr. Odeiga Jideonwo, noted that the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme would open new market access for businesses in the South-East. He expressed gratitude to Odumegwu-Ojukwu for ensuring that the region remained part of ECOWAS trade advancement efforts and announced that more West African nations would participate in the upcoming Enugu International Trade Fair scheduled for March 2026.
Visit http://gmtnewsng.com for more news.
