Olusegun Awolowo, the immediate former Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), recently supported Bellafricana members with N60 million award in order to enable small and medium-sized businesses compete favourably and expand.
Bellafricana is a tech-enabled network that serves as a platform for Nigerian and African creative entrepreneurs in a variety of industries, assisting them in gaining attention, increasing sales, and obtaining the necessary business support and structure to expand their businesses.
Bukky Asehinde, CEO of Bellafricana, said the opportunity is meant to support SMEs through the Export Development Fund (EDF) via the Export Expansion Facility Programme [EEFP], which awarded an N60 million grant to the 15 awardees of the third ACE Awards, as well as other Bellafricana members with export potential.
The EEFP aims to democratise exporter discovery and access to relevant government growth incentives.
The initiative supports businesses in Nigeria that have at least one international customer or are working to acquire international customers, as well as businesses that provide services that an export business may require, by providing these businesses with a variety of incentives to expand their reach and become exporters.
EEFP, which was established as part of Awolowo’s legacy to promote Nigeria’s export industry, has served as a catalyst for the country’s active and export-ready enterprises.
Asehinde went on to say that Awolowo had been supportive of the growth and expansion of not only Bellafricana but also her members through the NEPC, as well as giving more prominence to African-owned creative enterprises.
She went on to say that Awolowo has sponsored and supported over 5000 creatives through NEPC and that he is now wrapping up with this large award to help creative enterprises scale up while strengthening the country’s export economy.
A grant recipient praised Awolowo for believing in Nigerian creative businesses and assisting them in expanding beyond the country’s borders.
