2025 Trade Fair: FG declares huge success, showcases Nigeria’s rising capacity
Ndanusa and Rimi
The Federal Government has described the 2025 Nigeria International Trade Fair as a powerful demonstration of Nigeria’s industrial potential, investor confidence and ambition to strengthen its position as a leading export and manufacturing hub on the African continent.
Speaking at the end of the closing ceremony of the Nigeria International Trade Fair on Saturday in Lagos, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, said the fair showcased the country’s capacity to drive economic transformation through innovation, private-sector partnerships and regional integration.
Addressing participants, Rimi said this year’s fair highlighted Nigeria’s economic vigour, with strong participation from the manufacturing, agribusiness, digital services, creative industries and renewable energy sectors.
“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, who was represented by the Director of Special Duties, Aminu Dogondaji, stated.
He reaffirmed the Federal Ministry’s commitment to strengthening the business ecosystem, noting that the Trade Fair remained a vital platform for enterprise growth, export diversification and competitiveness, key components of Nigeria’s implementation of the AfCFTA.
“We are deliberately repositioning Nigeria not just as a participant, but as a manufacturing and export hub for the African continent,” he added.
Rimi commended the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board for its “exceptional organisation”, noting that the collaboration between public and private stakeholders elevated the fair into a world-class marketplace for ideas and commerce.
He also praised SMEs for their resilience and ingenuity, describing them as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy.
Rimi urged exhibitors to leverage the opportunities and networks created during the fair to scale their businesses.
“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.
Also speaking, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board, Vera Safiya Ndanusa, said the Fair recorded a full-scale revival, surpassing all projections in attendance, business deals and international participation.
Ndanusa described this year’s outing as the strongest in recent memory, stressing that the scale of activities proved the fair had “been revived completely.”
According to her, the volume of transactions, the number of partnerships sealed and the diversity of foreign participants underscored the renewed relevance of the fair 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. The turnout, the deals that were signed, the contacts exchanged and the MOUs tracked show that the fair is back,” she said.
She noted that exhibitors reported brisk business, with many selling out their stock before the final day.
Some, she added, secured more partnerships than they could immediately service.
“The visitors were in their thousands, and we had hundreds of exhibitors. By midweek, many stands were already empty because goods had sold out. This fair exceeded our expectations. It beat our imagination,” she said.
Ndanusa also revealed that stakeholders are already requesting early registration and digital engagement ahead of the 2026 edition, an indication of growing confidence in the fair’s upward trajectory.
“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,” she added.
Ndanusa 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 success possible.
“Every challenge is tremendous, but it takes determined people to turn challenges into opportunities,” she said.
The 2025 Nigeria International Trade Fair attracted thousands of visitors and showcased hundreds of exhibitors from Nigeria and across the world, reaffirming Lagos’ standing as a major regional centre for trade and investment.
