Business
Women Key to Africa Achieving its Trading Potential
NAIROBI – African countries have enormous potential for trade with the global market and for more intensive trade among themselves. Regional trade in Africa can play a vital role in diversifying economies and reducing dependence on the export of a few mineral products, in delivering food and energy security, in generating jobs for the increasing numbers of young people, and in alleviating poverty and promoting a shared prosperity.
The new volume—Women and Trade in Africa: Realizing the Potential—demonstrates how women play a key role in trade in Africa and will be essential to Africa’s success in exploiting its trade potential. Women make a major contribution to trade in most African countries through their involvement in the production of tradable goods as cross-border traders and as managers and owners of firms involved in trade.
According to Marcelo M. Giugale, Director, Department of Economic Policy and Poverty Reduction Programs, World Bank Africa Region, “Removing the three main obstacles to regional trade integration in Africa—misregulation, monopolies and corruption—would be particularly beneficial for poor women, as they literally carry most of the small-scale, cross-border commerce that happens within the Region. The potential benefits are huge and obvious: better food security, faster job creation, more poverty reduction, and less gender discrimination. This is a win-win-win-win reform agenda that is ready for action.”
The main messages from the volume call for Governments to recognize the role that women play in trade and ensure this is communicated to officials at all levels; Government should ensure that the rules and regulations governing trade are clear, transparent and widely available at the border. It is important to simplify documents and regulatory requirements where possible. In addition, it is essential to design interventions to develop trade in ways that ensure that women benefit.
Governments and donors are making concerted efforts to facilitate trade, to increase productivity in export-oriented sectors, and to improve competitiveness. But these need to be better targeted to ensure that women who participate in trade are reached by these interventions and that it is not just men who benefit. Finally, help women address the risks they face in their trade-related activities given that they are typically more risk averse than men and respond to risk in different ways.
In many countries in Africa, the majority of small farmers are women, and they produce crops such as maize, cassava, cotton, and rice that have enormous potential for increased trade between African countries and with the global market. Women are also involved in providing services across borders, such as education, health, and professional services, including accountancy and legal services. Hundreds of thousands of women cross borders in Africa every day to deliver goods from areas where they are relatively cheap to areas in which they are in shorter supply.
However, Africa’s trade potential is undermined by constraints that women face. The contribution of women to trade is much less than it could be because of various specific nontariff barriers that impinge particularly heavily on the trade activities of women and women-owned enterprises. These barriers often push women traders and producers into the informal economy where lack of access to finance, information, and networks jeopardize their capacity to grow and develop their business.
In its goal to ensure the equitable distribution of the benefits of integration, and specifically to empower women traders, TradeMark East Africa’s Private Sector and Civil Society Program facilitates programming to increase awareness of the challenges of informal cross border traders and build up knowledge and advocacy for a better trading environment.
Lisa Karanja, Director of the program states that ‘’…these and other deterrent conditions prevent women from taking full advantage of the opportunities created by trade and thus undermine the aspirations of countries in Africa to use trade as a driver of growth, employment, and poverty reduction.”
Yet, policy makers typically overlook women’s contribution to trade and the challenges they face. This neglect reflects, in part, the lack of data and information on women and trade in Africa and also the underrepresentation of small traders and rural producers in trade and trade policy discussions. This volume looks at the ways that women participate in trade in Africa, the constraints they face, and the impact of those constraints.
“The aim of this book is to make available new analysis on the participation of women in trade in Africa to a wide audience, says, Paul Brenton, Editor of the volume and World Bank Africa Trade Practice Leader. It highlights the key role that women will play in achieving Africa’s potential in trade. In addition to raising the profile of this public policy issue, we also hope that it will encourage more research and analysis over a wider range of African countries and so extend the knowledge base.”
NAIROBI– African countries have enormous potential for trade with the global market and for more intensive trade among themselves. Regional trade in Africa can play a vital role in diversifying economies and reducing dependence on the export of a few mineral products, in delivering food and energy security, in generating jobs for the increasing numbers of young people, and in alleviating poverty and promoting a shared prosperity.
The new volume—Women and Trade in Africa: Realizing the Potential—demonstrates how women play a key role in trade in Africa and will be essential to Africa’s success in exploiting its trade potential. Women make a major contribution to trade in most African countries through their involvement in the production of tradable goods as cross-border traders and as managers and owners of firms involved in trade.
According to Marcelo M. Giugale, Director, Department of Economic Policy and Poverty Reduction Programs, World Bank Africa Region, “Removing the three main obstacles to regional trade integration in Africa—misregulation, monopolies and corruption—would be particularly beneficial for poor women, as they literally carry most of the small-scale, cross-border commerce that happens within the Region. The potential benefits are huge and obvious: better food security, faster job creation, more poverty reduction, and less gender discrimination. This is a win-win-win-win reform agenda that is ready for action.”
The main messages from the volume call for Governments to recognize the role that women play in trade and ensure this is communicated to officials at all levels; Government should ensure that the rules and regulations governing trade are clear, transparent and widely available at the border. It is important to simplify documents and regulatory requirements where possible. In addition, it is essential to design interventions to develop trade in ways that ensure that women benefit.
Governments and donors are making concerted efforts to facilitate trade, to increase productivity in export-oriented sectors, and to improve competitiveness. But these need to be better targeted to ensure that women who participate in trade are reached by these interventions and that it is not just men who benefit. Finally, help women address the risks they face in their trade-related activities given that they are typically more risk averse than men and respond to risk in different ways.
In many countries in Africa, the majority of small farmers are women, and they produce crops such as maize, cassava, cotton, and rice that have enormous potential for increased trade between African countries and with the global market. Women are also involved in providing services across borders, such as education, health, and professional services, including accountancy and legal services. Hundreds of thousands of women cross borders in Africa every day to deliver goods from areas where they are relatively cheap to areas in which they are in shorter supply.
However, Africa’s trade potential is undermined by constraints that women face. The contribution of women to trade is much less than it could be because of various specific nontariff barriers that impinge particularly heavily on the trade activities of women and women-owned enterprises. These barriers often push women traders and producers into the informal economy where lack of access to finance, information, and networks jeopardize their capacity to grow and develop their business.
In its goal to ensure the equitable distribution of the benefits of integration, and specifically to empower women traders, TradeMark East Africa’s Private Sector and Civil Society Program facilitates programming to increase awareness of the challenges of informal cross border traders and build up knowledge and advocacy for a better trading environment.
Lisa Karanja, Director of the program states that ‘’…these and other deterrent conditions prevent women from taking full advantage of the opportunities created by trade and thus undermine the aspirations of countries in Africa to use trade as a driver of growth, employment, and poverty reduction.”
Yet, policy makers typically overlook women’s contribution to trade and the challenges they face. This neglect reflects, in part, the lack of data and information on women and trade in Africa and also the underrepresentation of small traders and rural producers in trade and trade policy discussions. This volume looks at the ways that women participate in trade in Africa, the constraints they face, and the impact of those constraints.
“The aim of this book is to make available new analysis on the participation of women in trade in Africa to a wide audience, says, Paul Brenton, Editor of the volume and World Bank Africa Trade Practice Leader. It highlights the key role that women will play in achieving Africa’s potential in trade. In addition to raising the profile of this public policy issue, we also hope that it will encourage more research and analysis over a wider range of African countries and so extend the knowledge base.”
With members of the public showing much zeal to take up the equities made available by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP), in its Initial Public Offering (IPO), financial institutions have warned against the activities of scammers.
On Tuesday, they counselled investors against disclosing sensitive banking information to parties claiming to facilitate the purchase of the refinery’s shares.
This is coming after the IPO drew about N1.5 trillion in subscriptions within the first 6 hours of trade on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), signaling extraordinary investor appetite for what could be one of Africa’s biggest share sales after the likes of MTN.
READ ALSO: Smart Filling Stations: NNPC Ltd Assuages Job-loss Worries
The rush by Nigerians to buy shares in the DPRP overwhelmed some local investment and trading platforms, with investors reporting difficulties accessing the apps as the IPO opened last Monday.
The unprecedented demand followed the commencement of the N2.15 trillion share offer by the Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), which sought to sell 4.1 billion shares in the refinery at N525 per share.
Urging Nigerians to participate, Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, assured investors that the public offering presents a compelling opportunity for strong returns and sustainable wealth creation.
Following the announcement, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a public statement, cautioned prospective investors to be vigilant and use only approved channels when subscribing to the IPO.
The Commission confirmed that it had approved the refinery’s public offer and urged investors to ensure that all applications and payments are processed exclusively through authorised receiving agents, approved subscription platforms, and designated channels.
In the same vein, banks urged customers to be particularly careful with unsolicited messages, calls and social-media offers promising access to shares or preferential allocations.
They pointed out that legitimate banks will not request highly sensitive information such as a customer’s full card number, personal identification number (PIN), card verification value (CVV) or one-time password (OTP) through unsolicited calls, text messages or online communications.
In a notification sent to its customers, Access Bank, said, “Buying the Dangote Refinery IPO? Remember, Access Bank will never ever ask for your full card number, PIN, CVV or OTP.
If you have shared the above information with anyone, please dial *901*911# to block your account”.
The warning highlights a familiar tactic used by financial fraudsters: exploiting public interest in a major corporate transaction to make fraudulent requests appear legitimate.
Scammers may present themselves as bank officials, investment advisers, brokers or representatives involved in the share offering. They can use official-looking logos, convincing language and references to well-known companies to persuade potential victims that a transaction is genuine.
Banks are therefore advising customers to independently verify investment opportunities before transferring money or providing personal information. Investors should rely on official communications and established financial channels rather than links or contact details supplied through unexpected messages.
The DPRP, one of Africa’s most prominent industrial projects, has generated significant interest in Nigeria’s capital markets and broader business community. Any potential share offering connected to the company is likely to attract considerable attention from retail and institutional investors.
That visibility, however, also creates an opportunity for criminals.
Financial institutions say customers who have already disclosed sensitive banking information should act immediately rather than wait to determine whether their accounts have been compromised. Promptly contacting the bank and taking steps to block or secure an account can help limit potential losses.
The latest warnings also underscore the wider challenge facing Nigeria’s financial sector as digital banking and mobile transactions become increasingly common. Fraudsters have increasingly sought to exploit moments of heightened public interest, particularly when consumers are eager to participate in investments that appear to offer significant returns.
For prospective investors, the message from banks is straightforward, enthusiasm for an investment opportunity should not override basic security precautions.
In a move perceived as an important milestone in the company’s journey to accelerate its Beyond XXX vision and drive the next phase of growth, innovation, and impact, Sahara has announced the appointment of Chidilim Menakaya as Managing Director.
Menakaya is a seasoned transformation and strategy executive, bringing more than two decades of leadership experience spanning Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Prior to her appointment, Menakaya served as Director of the Sahara Foundation, where she led the company’s sustainability and social impact agenda.
READ ALSO: Olaniwun Ajayi Weighs In on Dangote Refinery IPO
Under her leadership, the Foundation expanded the reach of Sahara’s EXTRApreneurship model, strengthened strategic partnerships, and deepened socio-economic impact across communities in the company’s locations.
Widely respected for her collaborative leadership style, strategic insight, and ability to build high-performing teams, she has consistently demonstrated a commitment to developing people, driving innovation, and delivering measurable outcomes.
Commenting on the appointment, Executive Director, Sahara, Ade Odunsi, said the decision reflects Sahara’s confidence in purposeful leadership and its commitment to building the future from within.
“For over three decades now we have remained committed to our vision of bringing energy to life responsibly. Beyond XXX represents our commitment to shaping the future through bold thinking, innovation, sustainability, and shared value creation. Chidilim’s appointment reflects these aspirations. We are confident that under her leadership, Sahara will continue to expand the frontiers of impact and create sustainable value for stakeholders across our markets.”
Odunsi noted that the appointment signals Sahara’s determination to build a resilient, future-focused enterprise capable of thriving in an increasingly dynamic global environment.
As Managing Director, Menakaya will provide strategic leadership for steering Sahara’s Beyond XXX agenda, enhancing stakeholder value, and positioning Sahara for continued growth and global relevance.
Menakaya holds executive and professional qualifications from leading global institutions, including London Business School, INSEAD, and Manchester Business School. She is also a certified Human Resources Business Partner, Transformation and Reputation Manager, and Prosci-certified Change Management Practitioner.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE (DPRP) Initial Public Offering (IPO), has been described as an important precedent in the Nigerian capital market.
Sharing the view in a statement on Monday, Olaniwun Ajayi LP also expressed its pleasure at having advised on the IPO while acting as Joint Solicitor to the transaction.
According to a Forbes report on Monday, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, saw his fortune rise to $51.3 billion following the launch of the refinery’s highly anticipated IPO on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), amid strong investor demand on the opening day.
READ ALSO: DPRP IPO: Dangote Rings Opening Bell at NGX
The transaction was brought to the market by a consortium of professional advisers, including Olaniwun Ajayi LP, which acted as the Joint Solicitors to the issue.
In that capacity, the firm advised Dangote Refinery on the legal aspects of the offer, from transaction structuring and regulatory engagement through to launch
According to the law firm, the transaction is expected to be the largest IPO in both Nigeria and Africa, marking the first public offer of shares by a Nigerian Free Zone Enterprise (NFZE) in Nigeria.
The law firm stated that the transaction matters beyond the deal as it “establishes an important precedent for capital raising by Free Zone Enterprises”, while contributing to the continued development of the Nigerian capital market.
It added that the proceeds are intended to support DPRP’s long-term growth strategy, including the expansion of its refining and petrochemicals capacity.
The law firm stressed that the offer broadens public participation in one of Africa’s most significant industrial assets.
Chelsea Confirm Major Ownership Change as Clearlake Takes Full Control
EFL Cup Fourth Round: Liverpool Face Chelsea as Arsenal, Newcastle Discover Opponents
EFCC Arrests Enugu Estate MD Over Alleged N128m Land Scam
Borgu: ‘We Must Never Normalise the Killing of Nigerians’ — Peter Obi
Atiku Meets Aisha Buhari, Says Nigeria Must Become Affordable Again
2027: PDP Drops Fresh Revelation on Wike’s Support for Tinubu
Trump’s Family Unveils New Cryptocurrency Platform
Senate Denies Receiving Petitions Against Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees
Dangote Cement Lights Up Benue Host Communities With CSR Initiatives
Reps Recommend 3-year Jail Term For Aviation minister
Tems Sets New Record On Billboard Hot 100 Chart
