By Ayomide Otitoju
Zenith Bank Plc is set to host the 10th edition of its International Trade Seminar on Non-Oil Export on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, with stakeholders expected to explore strategies for boosting Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.
The virtual seminar, themed “Unlocking Value and Harnessing Growth in Non-Oil Export,” will bring together policymakers, regulators, exporters, manufacturers, investors and other industry stakeholders.
Discussions will focus on moving Nigeria beyond the export of raw commodities by developing competitive value chains, expanding market access, improving trade infrastructure and strengthening export financing.
The event will feature the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, Wamkele Mene; Chief Executive Officer of Plot Enterprise Ghana Limited, Patricia Poku-Diaby; and former President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Benedict Oramah.
The seminar will also feature two panel discussions examining public and private sector perspectives on Nigeria’s trade and export ecosystem.
The public sector panel will include the Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), Abba Bello; Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi; Director of Trade and Exchange at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Aderinola Shonekan; Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Aisha Rimi; and Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nonye Ayeni.
The private sector panel will feature representatives from Starlink Global & Ideal Limited, Dangote Group, 3T Impex Trade Centre, Terra Aqua Environmental Consultancy Nigeria Limited, RMM Global and Lelook Nigeria Limited.
The discussions will cover trade facilitation, export financing, customs and port efficiency, regulation, market access and the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses in regional and international markets.
A key focus will be the AfCFTA and its potential to expand opportunities for Nigerian businesses across a continental market of more than one billion people.
According to Zenith Bank, the seminar will examine how Nigerian businesses can leverage regional integration, develop competitive value chains and increase their participation in intra-African trade.
The bank said it has continued to support discussions and initiatives aimed at strengthening trade and economic development, including partnerships with the AfCFTA Secretariat to facilitate cross-border commerce.
Now in its 10th edition, the Zenith Bank International Trade Seminar has become a platform for discussions involving government, regulators, businesses and financial institutions on challenges and opportunities within Nigeria’s trade sector.
The 2026 edition will seek to identify practical ways to unlock greater value from Nigeria’s non-oil exports and support sustainable economic growth.
The seminar will be streamed live on Zoom, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X and TikTok, with participants able to register through Zenith Bank’s official website.
