E.I. Izilein

Trade plays a vital role in driving economic growth by facilitating the exchange of goods, services, and ideas between countries .Increased trade can lead to increased efficiency and productivity, as firms are able to access a wider range of inputs and market, which can drive economic growth. Trade can also lead to increased competitiveness and a more diversified economy, which can further contribute to economic growth. However, it is important to note that the relationship between trade and economic growth is complex, and there are many other factors that can impact economic growth, such as infrastructure, education, and political stability. Trade can also have negative effectson economic growth, particularly if it leads to the displacement of domestic industries and job losses. Therefore, it is important to carefully consider the potential costs and benefits of trade policies and implement strategies to mitigate any negative impacts

This study evaluates the performance of international trade and its contribution to economic growth in Nigeria over a 34-year period (1990- 2024), utilizing annual time series data and the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) estimation technique. The research addresses the persistent challenge of why Nigeria has struggled to achieve significant economic growth despite its participation in global trade and the implementation of an Export-Led Growth (ELG) strategy. The key objective was to examine the impact of export trade, import trade, and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on the Real Gross Domestic Product (RGDP). The empirical results established that international trade exerts a mixed influence on Nigeria’s economy. The findings revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between import trade and economic growth, suggesting that the importation of productive capital goods and raw materials is crucial for enhancing domestic production capacity. Similarly, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) had a significant positive impact on economic growth, underscoring the value of a favorable investment climate. Conversely, export trade exhibited a negative and statistically insignificant effect on economic growth, which is primarily attributed to Nigeria's overreliance on crude oil and a weak, undiversified export structure.

This study examined exchange rate on economic growth of Nigeria from 1986 to 2020.Exchange rate is the rate at which one currency exchanges for another, it is the external value of a currency in respect to the external value of another currency.The objectives of the study is to empirically examine exchange rate and its volatility in the Nigerian economy. It will be shown in the study that exchange rate,inflation,interest rate has no significant impact on economic growth, thus making it a negative relationship. The significance of the study cannot be overemphasized as it is of great concern not only to policy makers but the economy at large. The main data used in this study is secondary; sourced from various issues of Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin. The Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression technique was used to analyze the data. Also in a view to afford difficulties while carrying out the regression analysis other methods such as Augumented Dickey Fuller test and ECMwasemployed, The result also revealed that exchange rate have no significant impacts on economic growth. The result also indicated that that interest rate and inflation rate have negative impact on economic growth respectively. We recommend that the government should properly manage exchange rate in Nigeria as its volatility has the potential to distort other factors (such as lending rate, labor force and price stability) that matter to the performance of the economy.Government should also encourage approved domestic investment to accelerate growth rather than relying on foreign direct investment. Interest rate should be managed in such a way that it will encourage savings but not to the extent of discouraging investment. Government should also reduce inflation to boost economic growth in Nigeria