Polaris Bank backs NACCIMA MSME support centre to boost non-oil exports

Polaris Bank has donated equipment to the newly launched Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) Export Express Support Centre in Lagos, a move to boost non-oil exports by providing small businesses with access to market information and advisory services.

Jani Ibrahim, national president of NACCIMA, said the handover marks more than a ceremony – It represents a bold step in collective commitment to strengthen Nigeria’s export ecosystem.

Receiving laptops, a workstation, a modem, and a printer from Polaris Bank on Friday at NACCIMA’s secretariat, Ibrahim said the centre will serve as a one-stop hub for exporters, providing guidance on documentation, standards compliance, and market access.

He described Polaris Bank’s support as “an investment in enterprise growth, job creation, and national economic resilience,” noting that sound policies alone cannot unlock Nigeria’s export potential without practical support systems.

“At NACCIMA, we have consistently emphasized that unlocking the country’s export potential requires not only sound policies, but also practical support systems that empower businesses, especially MSMEs, to compete effectively in regional and global markets.”

Ibrahim also commended NEPC, NAHCO, Mahanaim Ascent Trade Limited and the NACCIMA Export Group for their collaboration, stressing that such partnerships are required to drive sustainable non-oil export growth.

He pledged that NACCIMA will ensure the centre delivers tangible value to Nigerian businesses and contributes meaningfully to the national export agenda.

Speaking at the event, Kola Awe, chairman of NACCIMA export group, said Nigeria’s non-oil export sector has “huge opportunities yet to be tapped,” noting that the country’s current export figure of $6.4 billion is low compared to Dubai’s $330 billion.

He said the complexity of export processes — involving up to 10 government agencies — discourages MSMEs, with only 925 of 30,000 registered exporters actively exporting and contributing 50 percent of the $6.4 billion.

“The support centre will provide knowledge, training and innovation support,” Awe said, adding that it will demystify export processes and offer logistics, production, quality and standards information to help MSMEs scale.

Awe said the centre is designed to converge information, advisory, and enterprise support for exporters nationwide.

He said the collaboration will bridge knowledge gaps, enhance competitiveness, and position Nigerian MSMEs to scale and lead in the global marketplace.

Handing over the equipment, Chris Ofikulu, executive director at Polaris Bank Limited, described the export support centre as “strategic and transformational.”

He explained that unlocking the country’s export potential requires more than ambition, but access to information, markets, finance, and the right partnerships.

“Our donation of laptops, a fully equipped workstation, an internet-enabled modem, and a high-capacity printer is a deliberate contribution towards building this critical infrastructure that will serve exporters across the country,” he said.

Ofikulu noted that the bank’s support goes beyond financing to provide exporters with a comprehensive suite of solutions tailored for global trade.

He stated that the bank is recognised as one of Nigeria’s most supportive SME-focused banks, a feat Polaris embraces with renewed commitment to continuously innovate and deliver value-adds to its customers.

“We believe that initiatives like the Export Support Centre will serve as catalysts—bridging knowledge gaps, enhancing competitiveness, and positioning Nigerian businesses for success in the global marketplace.”

He commended NACCIMA for its leadership and foresight in championing these initiatives that strengthen the private sector and expand opportunities for Nigerian enterprises.