University Dons Chart Pathway To Nigeria’s Survival In Trade Wars

By Sulaimon Salau

University Lecturers under the aegis of Muslim Lecturers Association-Committe on National Issues, Development, and Advocacy (C-NIDA), have charted pathways to Nigeria’s survival in the on-going trade wars initiated by the United States.

The group, in a communique after a Labour Day Discourse held virtually in collaboration with Klients Aspire LTD (International), presented a 12 policy measures as an integrated national response to external economic pressures, aimed at safeguarding jobs, promoting inclusive growth, and positioning Nigeria for strategic advantage in the global economy.

The communique signed by Chair, C-NIDA, Dr. Lukman Raimi, noted that important Nigerian export industries, notably agriculture, textiles, and a few manufacturing lines, are now directly and indirectly suffering from recent U.S. tariff policies.

To mitigate short-term losses, participants suggested creating an Emergency Export Buffer Programme (EEBP). This would entail offering support units for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) functioning in impacted industries, export credit facilities, and exemptions from export taxes.

Some of the participants at the virtual discourse titled “United States Trade Wars or Trade Wins? Pathways for Nigeria’s Survival in a Shifting Global Economy.” include Dr. Lukman Raimi, of the Department of Business Administration at Universiti Brunei; Dr. Shukurat Bello, Associate Professor of Business Management and Entrepreneurship at Bayero University, Kano; Dr. Adams Adeiza, Associate Professor at Sunway Business School and Senior

Fellow at the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI); and Dr. Ibrahim Lanre Ridwan, affiliated with the European University of Lefke and INTI International University, Malaysia, among others

The discourse produced practical strategies for boosting Nigeria’s economic competitiveness, resilience, and global relevance in the face of escalating trade tensions.

Acknowledging Nigeria’s excessive reliance on oil, the group identified the necessity of a Sectoral Diversification Strategy (SDS), noting that, “Agro-processing, digital services, pharmaceuticals, and solid minerals are examples of high-potential industries that can prosper in the face of tensions surrounding international trade, if Nigeria explore opportunities in Africa, Asia and other trading partners beyond”.

It also calls for tax breaks for non-oil exporters, the construction of infrastructure in special economic zones, and increased eligibility for export promotion grants.

Emphasizing the need to everage entrepreneurship for economic resilience, the discussants highlighted how Nigerian startups and SMEs can turn disruptions caused by tariffs into chances for regional innovation and production.

“For import substitution, the National Innovation for Tariff Resilience Initiative (NITRI), a suggested policy initiative, would offer national innovation competitions, matching grants, and assistance for academic co-creation labs.

“An idea to promote innovation-led development was the establishment of Entrepreneurial Growth Zones (EGZs). These areas would be ideally situated and subsidised to assist companies in the tech, renewable energy, and agro-processing industries. Furthermore, the participants advocated for Public-Private SME Expansion Compacts (PPSECs), which are backed by structured mentorship

programs, tax breaks, and co-investment funds, to promote cooperation between corporations and SMEs.,” it stated.

On marketing Nigeria’s affordable higher education globally, the group acknowledged Nigeria’s higher education system as a valuable resource that is underutilised in the international education market.

Participants promoted the creation of the

“EduNigeria Global Branding Campaign, which highlights Nigeria’s competitive edge in providing high-quality, reasonably priced education to international students, especially those in Asia and

Africa. Additionally, to encourage faculty/student exchanges, dual-degree programs, and cross- border academic collaborations, a Strategic University Partnership Program (SUPP) was proposed through regional university-foreign university collaboration and public-private partnership (PPP).

“The Student Visa Reform and Services Strategy (SVRSS), which is implemented in Malaysia, Ghana, and other nations, should support these innovative initiatives. It should include fast-track visa processing, international student desks at universities, and restricted part-time work rights for international students”.

The discussions resulted in a set of practical, industry-specific

policy recommendations aimed at 15 key Federal Government of Nigeria Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

1.Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI)

Policy Prescription: Launch an Emergency Export Buffer Program (EEBP) offering targeted relief to sectors of the Nigerian economy affected directly and indirectly by new tariffs through credit access, levy waivers, and rapid-response export support teams.

2. Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC)

Policy Prescription: Expand the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) to cover agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, and light manufacturing. Fast-track grant processing and introduce digital tracking for beneficiaries.

3. Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

Policy Prescription: Urgently create a Tariff Impact Adjustment Window (TIAW) under the

Development Finance Department to stabilise affected sectors and small and medium enterprises

(SMEs) through preferential interest rates and forex access for local input substitution.

4. National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI)

Policy Prescription: Establish Innovation-for-Import-Substitution Labs (IIS-Labs) in 6 geopolitical zones, co-managed by universities, to produce local alternatives to tariff-impacted

imports.

5. Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and Bank of Industry (BOI)

Policy Prescription: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the engines of growth and the powerhouse of industrialisation. SMEDAN and BOI should collaboratively roll out a Startup

Resilience Grant Scheme (SRGS) with funding and capacity-building support for SMEs pivoting into local manufacturing and agro-processing.

6. Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (FMSTI)

Policy Prescription: Develop and fund a National Innovation for Tariff Resilience Initiative (NITRI) focused on research, commercialisation, and local production of strategic substitutes. This initiative should prioritise partnerships with universities, research institutes, and industry to fast-

track technology transfer, enhance indigenous capacity, and reduce dependence on imported inputs.

7. Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund)

Policy Prescription: Fund the creation of Tech-Driven Export Clusters (TDECs) within university research parks, linked to global trade networks and startup incubators. These clusters should foster innovation-led export solutions, facilitate knowledge exchange, provide access to

shared R&D infrastructure, and support commercialisation pathways for high-potential technologies targeting international markets.

8. Federal Ministry of Education/National Universities Commission (NUC)

Policy Prescription: The Federal Ministry of Education should develop and approve a Strategic University Partnership Program (SUPP) for cross-border dual-degree arrangements and institutional

collaborations by Nigerian universities with foreign universities. The program should encourage faculty exchanges, joint research projects, curriculum harmonisation, mutual accreditation, and

shared digital learning platforms to enhance global competitiveness, improve quality assurance, and foster long-term academic diplomacy. The National Universities Commission (NUC) should coordinate a Global Branding Campaign

(EduNigeria) to promote Nigeria’s universities to African, Asian, and Middle Eastern students by highlighting affordability, innovation, academic quality, cultural richness, and English-medium

instruction. The campaign should utilise digital platforms, diaspora networks, education fairs, and bilateral education agreements to enhance visibility and attract international student enrollment.

9. Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS)

Policy Prescription: Implement a Student Visa Fast-Track Policy (SVFP) with 15-day

processing, as practised by China, Canada, and Malaysia, for verified international students, and introduce a legal framework for part-time student employment. This should include clear eligibility criteria, institutional endorsement protocols, biometric verification, post-study work options, and collaboration with embassies to streamline visa issuance and compliance monitoring.

10. Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC)

Policy Prescription: Facilitate Public-Private SME Expansion Compacts (PPSECs) allowing corporate participation in funding, mentoring, and co-locating SMEs within shared infrastructure

zones.

11. Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC)

Policy Prescription: Create a One-Stop Digital Platform for exporters and SMEs to seamlessly access permits, tariff updates, and incentive applications without bureaucratic delays. This should

be complemented by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) through the provision of 5-year tax holidays for new entrants in high-impact export sectors such as renewable energy, food

processing, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

12. National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)/Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy

Policy Prescription: NITDA should support the development of AI-powered Trade Forecast Systems for Nigerian exporters and SME trade platforms to better anticipate market shifts and tariff

barriers. The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, on the other hand, should launch a Digital Trade Access Fund (DTAF) to subsidise international e-commerce logistics, digital marketing, and compliance certification for Nigerian tech-enabled exporters.