In the bid to strengthen regional integration, facilitate cross-border agricultural trade, and expand opportunities for micro-small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), the National Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), has partnered with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

At the launch of NACCIMA activities under the ECOWAS Agricultural Trade Programme themed: "Strengthening ECOWAs Agricultural Market to Drive Food Security and Regional Prosperity," NACCIMA President, Jani Ibrahim noted that agriculture continues to play a critical role in Nigeria's economy, adding that in Q4 2024, the sector contributed about 24.64% to GDP.

"With the recent GDP rebasing, the share of agriculture in national output has risen. Early 2025 estimates show agriculture's share of GDP at around 27.8%."

Ibrahim however noted that despite its large role in the economy and its sustenance of livelihoods, Nigeria's agricultural exports remain modest.

Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn

He disclosed that it is against this backdrop that the EAT Project and NACCIMA's role take on special relevance.

He said for NACCIMA, this initiative aligns perfectly with the association's mandate to empower the private sector, promote enabling policies, and strengthen export competitiveness.

"Through this Project, we intend to address longstanding bottlenecks that hinder trade through the capacity building of traders and SMEs within the agribusiness value chain, enabling them to meet requirements for regional markets," he said.

For the Director General, NACCIMA, Sola Obadimu, agriculture remains a major pillar of Nigeria's economy, contributing about one-quarter of its GDP and supporting millions of livelihoods.

Obadimu noted that yet, despite the vast potential, the nation's agricultural export earnings remain below expectation, even as the wider ECOWAS region with a population of over 400 million people continues to offer huge untapped market opportunities.