Founded by Nigerian entrepreneurs, Tony Nwose and Daniel Chukwuemelie, the US-based startup has already built a reputation for helping verified African manufacturers, spanning agriculture, fabrics and minerals products connect seamlessly to international buyers.

With operational footprints in the US, UK, Canada, and South Asia, and a recent FDA Global Partner License unlocking export access to the United States, Niteon is already a formidable force in African digital trade.

The launch of Niteon Capital, comes as the company gears up for its $1.5 million equity and $5 million debt seed round, signalling a bold expansion into fintech infrastructure to complement its fast-growing marketplace, and taking aim at a deeper, more entrenched problem: Manufacturers’ finance.

“African manufacturers are doing the hard work, but they’re being underserved by traditional banks. There’s no financial infrastructure built for them,” says CEO Tony Nwose. “Niteon Capital changes that.”

The Manufacturer’s Bank: Tailored Trade Finance at Last

Unlike conventional digital banks, Niteon Capital isn’t designed for just anyone. It’s engineered specifically for manufacturers and exporters. This includes:

Invoice & Procurement Financing: To help factories fulfill large purchase orders without cash flow delays.

Sharia-Compliant Financing: Opening access to ethical financing models for manufacturers across Northern Nigeria and other Islamic markets.

Export Wallet Accounts: A revolutionary new financial tool that allows manufacturers to operate export-ready accounts with built-in tax advantages, carbon credit earnings, and multi-currency support.

Infrastructure Loans: Medium-term financing to upgrade machinery, facilities, or logistics capabilities—ensuring African manufacturers can meet global standards.

The entire system is embedded directly into Niteon’s growing export ecosystem, reducing friction between buyers, sellers, logistics providers, and now… banking.

Positioned for Global Scale

The launch of Niteon Capital marks a key inflection point in Niteon’s trajectory, from a B2B marketplace into a comprehensive export ecosystem. It’s not just about matching buyers and sellers anymore. It’s about solving the systemic constraints that have stifled Africa’s trade capacity for decades.

Backed by global players like Seedstars, Tomi Davis, TVC Labs, Zenith Bank, and the Development Bank of Nigeria, Niteon is now positioning itself as a TradeTech leader, building infrastructure that rivals anything on the continent.

“We’re not just scaling a platform,” Daniel Chukwuemelie adds. “We’re building the financial engine behind Africa’s industrial growth story.”

Next Stop: Seed Round

As Niteon rolls out Niteon Capital across its network, the team has opened its $1.5M equity and $5M debt seed round to strategic partners looking to accelerate African trade. The funding will power neobank expansion, licensing, deeper AI integration, and onboarding of over 20,000 manufacturers by Q4 2025.

This is not just another fintech product. It’s a blueprint for how Africa will finance its own industrial future from factory floor to global warehouse.

The event brought together diverse range of traditional entrepreneurs, startup founders, industry experts and thought leaders for a transformative experience of learning, earning, networking, and collaboration.

At the Trade Lenda Fair, a plethora of products, services, and innovative solutions across various industries were showcased. The exhibitors came from across Lagos, Oyo, Ogun and Kwara state, reflecting the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit and creativity that defines SMEs in Nigeria.

One of the key highlights of the event was the keynote address by the Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who shared his journey of entrepreneurship from 1979 till date. 

Several masterclasses were conducted by industry leaders and subject-matter experts within the SME ecosystem in Nigeria. These in-depth workshops on starting, financing, marketing and systems development provided participants with actionable insights, practical strategies, and knowledge essential for driving their business growth and adapting to evolving market trends.

The panel sessions, another feature of the event, was facilitated by notable SME brands and SMEs enablers who shared their stories, expertise, valuable insights and perspectives on subjects such as starting, scaling, digitalizing and leveraging interventions. The deep dive conversations served as interactive dialogue, sparking new ideas and approaches that have the potential to reshape the SME landscape.

Another high point was the award of prizes to the tune of N5 million to the top five winners of the pitch competition. The first prize winner (Posh Meals) also won an all-expense trip to Qatar.

“We are thrilled with the overwhelming response and outcome of the Trade Lenda Fair,” said Adeshina Adewumi, CEO, Trade Lenda and Convener of the Trade Lenda Fair.

“The event provided a unique opportunity for SMEs to connect, learn, and collaborate. The masterclasses and panel sessions, in particular, empowered attendees with the knowledge and inspiration needed to elevate their businesses to new heights.”

He further added that “the success of Trade Lenda Fair can be attributed to the unwavering support of our sponsors: Providus, Eazipay, RedCloud, Paystack and our partners Techeconomy, Credo, Baobab+, Lagos Business School, Shuttlers, Niteon, Changera, Money Africa, LSETF, TechNext, TechCabal and TechPoint. Their collective enthusiasm and dedication have created an environment of innovation and growth, contributing to the event’s impact on the SME ecosystem.”

The Trade Lenda Fair has set a new benchmark for facilitating meaningful interactions, fostering learning, and igniting inspiration within the SME community in Nigeria. As the curtains draw on this year’s event, the organizers look forward to building on this success and continuing to empower SMEs with opportunities and solutions that propel them towards prosperity.

More about Trade Lenda

It is Nigeria’s premier digital lending fintech brand and the Trade Lenda Fair is an annual flagship platform that brings together SMEs, industry experts, and stakeholders to showcase their offerings, share knowledge, and foster collaboration., the event aims to empower SMEs with the tools, insights, and connections needed to thrive in today’s dynamic business environment.