By Jonathan Lois
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has commenced the screening and selection of prospective exhibitors for the 2025 Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), scheduled to hold in Algiers, Algeria, from September 4 to 10, 2025.
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Director/CEO of NEPC, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, the Director of the Market Access Department, Mr. Akintunde Folorunso, said the exercise aims to ensure equity, transparency, and the presentation of Nigeria’s best to the rest of the continent.
“This is not a random selection process,” Folorunso told participants during a briefing session organized for exporters from the North Central zone. “We believe in giving every interested exporter a fair chance to showcase their products, meet the required standards, and be part of this great opportunity to expand their markets.”
According to him, interest in the fair was collated through public calls for expression of interest published in three national dailies. Applicants were required to register via an online portal, from which prospective exhibitors were shortlisted for the ongoing selection and briefing exercises.
He emphasized that Nigeria’s participation in the trade fair is part of a coordinated national effort involving four government agencies working through an Inter-Agency Planning Committee—namely NEPC, the Bank of Industry (BOI), Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN). Each of these agencies is also expected to present qualified SMEs under the same unified selection criteria.
The 2025 Intra-African Trade Fair, the fourth in its series, is a key initiative under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), providing access to a market of approximately 1.4 billion people. It offers Nigerian small and medium enterprises a rare opportunity to launch into the broader African market, where movement of goods, capital, and people is increasingly being liberalized.
“Exporters must understand that this is a competitive platform. With 54 African countries participating, Nigeria cannot afford to be unprepared,” Folorunso said. “We need to demonstrate excellence not just in product quantity, but also in packaging, certification, standard, and overall value.”
He further encouraged participating companies to view the selection exercise not just as a gateway to Algeria but as a capacity-building opportunity to improve the export readiness of their products.
“All prospective exhibitors are expected to demonstrate the full capacity of their businesses—what volume they can produce, the quality of their goods, the certifications they have, and how well their packaging represents global standards,” he said. “Those who are not selected should still take the feedback from this exercise seriously to strengthen their chances in future engagements and ensure their products are globally competitive.”
Folorunso reiterated the NEPC’s commitment to providing support to successful companies throughout their preparation and participation in the fair, in line with its mandate to promote non-oil exports.
He urged all participants to interact freely with NEPC officers during the selection process to clarify any uncertainties and take advantage of the knowledge being shared.
“Whether selected or not, exporters must learn from this process. We want everyone to be better prepared for future opportunities. Nigeria needs to show its best face in Algeria come September 2025,” he concluded.
The IATF is organized by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in collaboration with the African Union and AfCFTA Secretariat. It brings together continental and global stakeholders to showcase goods and services, create new business partnerships, and drive intra-African trade.
As preparations intensify, the NEPC and its partners are hopeful that Nigeria’s delegation will not only reflect the country’s diversity and enterprise but also win significant deals and exposure for local businesses ready to play on the continental stage.
