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BENJAMIN OMOIKE
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Federal Government has declared the 2025 Nigeria International Trade Fair a resounding success, describing it as a strong demonstration of the country’s growing industrial capacity, rising investor confidence and strategic ambition to position Nigeria as a leading manufacturing and export hub in Africa.
Speaking at the closing ceremony on Saturday in Lagos, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, said this year’s fair highlighted Nigeria’s potential to drive economic transformation through innovation, private-sector collaboration and deeper regional integration.
Represented by the Director of Special Duties, Aminu Dogondaji, Rimi noted that participation from across key sectors—including manufacturing, agribusiness, digital services, the creative economy and renewable energy—reflects Nigeria’s economic resilience and expanding productive base.
“The robust turnout of international exhibitors, investors and development partners is a strong vote of confidence,” he said. “It signals to the world that Nigeria remains a premier destination for business and legitimate investment.”
Rimi reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening the national business environment, stressing that the trade fair remains a critical platform for enterprise growth, export diversification and competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“We are deliberately repositioning Nigeria not just as a participant, but as a manufacturing and export hub for the African continent,” he stated.
He commended the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board for what he described as exceptional organisation, adding that the synergy between public and private stakeholders elevated the fair into a world-class marketplace for ideas and commerce. He further praised small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for their resilience and innovation, describing them as the backbone of the economy.
Rimi urged exhibitors to convert business leads from the fair into tangible outcomes. “I challenge all stakeholders to translate the conversations of this fair into concrete actions—sign deals, establish policy partnerships and pursue industrial collaborations. These tangible outcomes are the true measure of our success,” he said.
The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board, Vera Safiya Ndanusa, also lauded the fair’s strong performance, stating that this year’s edition recorded a full-scale revival and exceeded projections in attendance, business transactions and international participation.
Ndanusa described the 2025 fair as the most vibrant in recent years, noting that the volume of deals sealed and the diversity of foreign participation reaffirmed the event’s renewed role as a continental commercial hub.
“We have so many tangible achievements from this trade fair, but the one that stood out is that it has been revived completely,” she said. “The turnout, the deals that were signed, the contacts exchanged and the MOUs tracked show that the fair is back.”
She revealed that several exhibitors sold out their products before the final day, with some securing more partnerships than they could immediately service. The demand, she added, has prompted stakeholders to request early registration and digital engagement ahead of the 2026 edition.
“We have the space, we have the people, and I’m glad this was not just a jamboree. Real businesses came, and they have positive reports. Immediately, we begin preparations for next year,” Ndanusa added.
She expressed gratitude to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, the supervising ministry and President Bola Tinubu for providing the enabling environment that made the fair’s success possible.
The 2025 Nigeria International Trade Fair attracted thousands of visitors and showcased hundreds of exhibitors from within and outside Nigeria, reaffirming Lagos as a major regional centre for trade, investment and commercial innovation.
