FG, UK launch programme to boost Nigerian SMEs, strengthen trade standards

FG, UK launch programme to boost Nigerian SMEs, strengthen trade standards

The Federal Government of Nigeria, in partnership with the United Kingdom, has launched the Standards Partnership Programme aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s quality infrastructure and empowering small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for participation in international trade.

Speaking at the launch in Abuja, Simeon Umukoro, Trade Market Access Lead at the UK Department for Business and Trade in Nigeria, stated that the UK-funded initiative is part of the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) with Nigeria. The programme is designed to help Nigerian SMEs overcome technical and regulatory barriers to global trade, especially with the UK.

A major benefit for SMEs under this initiative is access to the Developing Countries Trading Scheme, which allows duty-free export of over 3,500 Nigerian products to the UK. The programme aims to ensure broader economic inclusion by enabling small businesses—not just large corporations—to meet international quality and safety standards.

The initiative involves building institutional capacity by supporting key agencies like the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Nigeria National Accreditation System (NiNAS). It also works in collaboration with the National Quality Council to implement the National Quality Policy, aiming to foster a coordinated national approach to quality assurance. This, according to Umukoro, would give Nigeria a competitive edge in global markets.