ProvidusUnity Bank convened more than 200 participants, including exporters and representatives of industry groups and government institutions, in Kano to discuss financing and trade barriers, Nairametrics and BusinessDay reported.
The gathering was the fifth edition of the bank’s Non-Oil Export Business Forum. Participants discussed access to trade finance, regulatory compliance, trade procedures and requirements for selling into international markets. Nairametrics reported that attendees included representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigerian Customs Service, the Nigerian Export-Import Bank, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, along with businesses in agriculture, manufacturing and commodity trading.
Walter Akpani, ProvidusUnity Bank’s managing director and chief executive, said the bank aims to provide trade services and coordinate with exporters, industry associations and regulators. The remarks were delivered by Enyinnaya Akagha, the bank’s treasurer, Nairametrics reported. Dr. Abiodun Ariyo, the bank’s Group Head of Global Trade and Structured Finance, said exporters face financing gaps, procedural friction, unclear rules and challenges meeting standards in overseas markets.
Nigeria’s non-oil export receipts totaled $6.1 billion in 2025, up 11.5% from $5.46 billion the previous year, according to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC). The council described the 2025 value as the country’s highest supported by formal records. Export volume reached 8.02 million metric tonnes, a 10% increase from 7.29 million tonnes in 2024. Nigerian goods reached 120 countries and covered 281 non-oil products, NEPC said.
The council’s figures also show how exports move through the financial and transport systems: 30 banks processed 19,975 NXP forms, which serve as export declarations, and seaports handled 94% of non-oil exports through 20 exit points in 2025.
NEPC’s stated priorities for 2026 include expanding production clusters, reducing rejected exports and increasing participation by small and medium-sized businesses. The council also listed greater value addition and stronger governance in the solid minerals sector among its aims. The forum reports describe a general commitment by the bank to support exporters, but specify no new loan, funding amount, interest rate or eligibility terms.
