The Role of Nigerian Trade Missions Abroad in Promoting Non-Oil Exports

This research examines the role of Nigerian trade missions and diplomatic commercial offices abroad in promoting non-oil exports from Nigeria. With the federal government's diversification agenda targeting increased earnings from agriculture, solid minerals, and manufactured goods, trade missions are expected to serve as critical market intelligence and business facilitation hubs. The study adopts a descriptive research design and collects primary data through structured questionnaires administered to 70 Nigerian export companies that have engaged with trade missions and to 20 trade mission commercial officers, resulting in a combined sample of 90 respondents. Data are sourced from the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and published trade mission activity reports. Descriptive statistics and content analysis are used in data interpretation. The theoretical framework draws on the institutional theory of export promotion and the export development process model. The study investigates the effectiveness of trade missions in organising trade fairs, facilitating buyer-seller matchmaking, providing market entry advisory services, and advocating for market access in host countries. Findings are expected to show that while trade missions possess the structural mandate to support non-oil exporters, limited budgetary allocations, staffing gaps, and insufficient coordination with private sector exporters constrain their performance. The research recommends performance-based funding for trade missions, private sector advisory boards embedded in commercial offices, and digital trade facilitation platforms. Contributions are made to the literature on export promotion institutions in developing countries. Keywords: trade missions, non-oil exports, export promotion, Nigerian diplomacy, diversification