Abuja: The International Trade Facilitators Association (ITFA) has trained more than 500 non-governmental organisations and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) on sustainable trade transformation.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the training was funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with support from the Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP).
Mr. Collins Ezeiruaku, Trade Ambassador at ITFA, described the initiative as a strategic intersection of commerce and conservation. “We are empowering organisations to operate ethically, source responsibly and build resilience beyond catalytic funding. More than 470 institutions including civil society groups and community-based organisations were targeted, with many now commercialising nature-positive projects,” he said. Ezeiruaku further explained that the SPENM project serves as a blueprint for post-grant sustainability, ethical sourcing, and environmental stewardship by equipping grassroots organisations with tools for traceability, financial management, and market access.
Mrs. Okiemute Olori, a coach and consultant on the SPENM project, highlighted the importance of future-proofing local enterprises. She stated, “We are helping MSMEs think globally to get certified, build credibility and compete effectively in international markets.”
Dr. Abel Owotemu, Technical Adviser to ITFA, led a session on integrating sustainability into business strategy using the Business/Mission Model Canvas, focusing on the triple bottom line tagged ‘People, Planet and Profits.’ He emphasized that the aim was to guide MSMEs to shift from profit-only or NGO-only mindsets to impact-driven models that would make a real difference in society.
Mrs. Ibironke Olubamise, National Coordinator of the UNDP GEF-SGP, identified SPENM as a catalyst for long-term transformation. She emphasized that GEF is more than a funding mechanism, but an investment in local capacity, institutional integration, and revenue-generating models. Olubamise remarked, “We are laying the groundwork for environmental and economic resilience that endures beyond the life of any single project. This initiative signals a new era for Nigeria’s MSME ecosystem, one where sustainability is not a side note, but a strategic imperative.”
