A Nigerian farm owner operating a grass-packing operation that depended on specialized baling equipment to keep pace with output.
The client needed a specific type of baler, machinery not widely available within Nigeria. A search of the domestic market turned up only a small number of farms with access to the equipment, and acquiring one meant joining a waiting list with no clear timeline. For an operation where output depended on this machine, an open-ended wait wasn’t a viable option, waiting represented lost production time and, potentially, lost seasonal capacity.
Safhawa began with a full requirement assessment to understand the exact specification the client needed, not simply “a baler,” but one suited to the volume, terrain, and operational conditions of the client’s farm. From there, our team conducted manufacturer research within China’s manufacturing base, identifying multiple candidates capable of producing equipment to the required specification. Each potential manufacturer was then verified directly, confirming manufacturing capability and production capacity before any commitment was made.
Because a machinery purchase at this scale benefits from physical inspection rather than remote sign-off, we arranged for the client to travel to China. This gave him direct access to the manufacturers, the ability to compare available models side by side, and the opportunity to test the equipment himself before finalizing a decision, rather than relying on specifications alone.
The client identified and purchased a baler that matched his exact requirements, having personally verified its performance before purchase. What had been an open-ended domestic waiting list became a defined, managed process with a clear resolution.
Requirement assessment → manufacturer research → Manufacturer verification → China business trip → Factory visits → Machine testing → manufacturer selection → Purchase
A Nigerian exporter seeking to introduce his products into the Chinese market for the first time.
The client’s initial plan was to exhibit at the Canton Fair, China’s largest and best-known trade exhibition. On the surface, this seemed like the obvious choice, it’s the exhibition most exporters default to. But defaulting to the most visible option isn’t the same as choosing the right one. After reviewing the client’s specific products and export goals, it became clear that the Canton Fair’s audience and category structure weren’t the best match for what he was trying to achieve. Attending anyway risked spending significant time and resources reaching an audience that wasn’t positioned to become real buyers.
Rather than proceed with the default plan, Safhawa conducted a deeper assessment of the client’s product category and export objectives, followed by research into the broader landscape of Chinese trade exhibitions. This research identified an alternative exhibition better aligned with the client’s specific goods and target buyers. We also identified an additional advantage available to the client as a Nigerian exporter: participation through the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) booth, a channel that gave his products added visibility and context as part of a recognized national delegation rather than as an unaffiliated first-time exhibitor.
The client showcased his products to an audience genuinely aligned with his export goals, rather than the general foot traffic of a mismatched exhibition. Through this positioning, he built business connections directly relevant to his products and generated real sales opportunities, outcomes that a Canton Fair booth, for this particular product category, was unlikely to have produced as efficiently.
Product assessment → Chinese market research → Exhibition research → Identification of the most suitable event → Support with participation through the NEPC booth → Buyer connections → Sales opportunities
A Nigerian business seeking to acquire large-scale industrial machinery, with a total transaction value in the billions of naira.
The client had already identified the machinery required and had a manufacturer relationship in place. What stood between him and the acquisition wasn’t the sourcing itself, it was capital. The full purchase amount wasn’t available in cash. What the client did have was collateral of meaningful value, but no clear pathway for converting that collateral into usable financing for an international equipment purchase of this scale.
This is a common but rarely discussed barrier in large-scale procurement: identifying the right equipment and the right manufacturer solves only part of the problem when the acquisition itself is financially out of immediate reach.
Recognizing that this was as much a financing challenge as a sourcing one, Safhawa expanded its role beyond product sourcing to include active support in exploring funding pathways. Our team assessed the client’s overall business needs and reviewed the collateral available to determine what financing routes might be realistic. We then identified relevant financing institutions positioned to support a transaction of this nature, and engaged directly with NEXIM Bank and the Bank of Industry on the client’s behalf to explore suitable financing options
The client was guided through a structured process for exploring financing that could allow him to leverage his available collateral toward the machinery acquisition, turning a transaction that had stalled on capital access into one with a defined, actionable path forward.
Business needs assessment → Machinery and manufacturer research → Review of available collateral → Identification of relevant funding institutions → Engagement with NEXIM Bank and Bank of Industry → Funding support process → Machinery acquisition planning
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