NEPC

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has trained women entrepreneurs across the country on export market strategy to boost global competitiveness and the diversification drive of the Federal Government.  

Mr Ezra Yakusak, Executive Director of the Council, said the high performance of women in sectors like agriculture, textiles, and apparel showed that women play a major role in the diversification of the nation’s economy.  

Yakusak, represented by the Deputy Director in Uyo office, Mrs Pauline Ndulaka, stated this during a one-day training for women-owned businesses in Uyo on Thursday.  

He said a recent survey conducted by the World Bank indicated that Nigeria has one of the highest rates of female entrepreneurs in the world.  

He expressed  displeasure that these businesses were classified as low level because they operated in informal sectors that yielded little income.  

“I am delighted for this market strategy training programme organised by the Women in Export Division, Nigerian Export Promotion Council for the benefit of women entrepreneurs in Nigeria.  

“It has become necessary to optimize export activities in Nigeria, especially in areas that were previously untapped, like Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Women-Owned Businesses (WBOs).  

“There is a need to increase women’s potential to participate in high-level businesses that can foster financial empowerment, job creation, and social development in their communities.  

“The participation of women in trade promotes gender inclusiveness, increases the growth potential of the nation, and creates a more balanced framework for sustainable development,” he said.  

Yakusak encouraged all exporters to continue to learn specific requirements of the target markets, as well as the certification needed for their products to be exported.  

Earlier in her remarks of welcome, Mrs Ndulaka said that the good attendance of women in the training was a confirmation of the interest and commitment they had  placed on the growth of the non-oil sector.  

Ndulaka, represented by Mrs Christiana Ekeng, NEPC’s Head of Product and Market, Uyo office, said that women’s economic empowerment was crucial to the economic development of emerging economies like Nigeria.  

She said that when women were empowered to enter the export business, it would trigger employment generation, poverty reduction, and increase the standard of living.  

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has pledged to accelerate its efforts at making Nigeria’s exportable brands more competitive in the African market.

Executive Director of the NEPC, Dr Ezra Yakusak, said this in Owerri on Friday at a workshop it organised in conjunction with the Export Expansion Facility Programme.

Speaking on the theme : “Role of AfCFTA in the Growth and Development of Intra-African Trade”, Yakusak identified Nigeria as the single largest market in Africa.

Yakusak, who was represented by NEPC’s Trade Promotion Advisor in Imo,  Mr Anthony Ajuruchi, said that the NEPC would ensure that Nigerian exporters were adequately prepared for business through partnerships with relevant development partners, local and international.

According to him, a good understanding of laws and treaties of the AfCFTA by Nigeria’s exporters would aid effective access to the African regional market and make Nigerian made goods the pride of the African market.

 “It is apt to mention that hard work, credibility and transparency are the hallmark of the export business, hence, the NEPC’s commitment to public  enlightenment for improved marketability of our exportable brands.

 “We shall continually sustain increased efforts to accelerate competitiveness of Nigerian exportable brands in the AfCFTA market,” he said.

 Also Speaking, the Imo Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Simon Ebegbulam restated the state government’s commitment to creating the enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

Ebegbulam, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr G. E. Nnah, noted that exportation among other things, created employment, reduced poverty and promoted bilateral relationships.

Also, the Coordinator, Imo Exporters Group, His Royal Highness, Eze George Eke, said that arrangements were in top gear to have the state’s export brands such as palm oil, ginger, tumeric and others in the US market.

He however, urged the Federal Government to reopen the Onne export corridor in Rivers as a way of supporting the AfCFTA and further encouraging ease of exporting Imo brands.

Mr Ben Acho, the representative of NEPC’s legal unit harped on the need for legitimate exportation with due regard for existing legal procedures associated with exports.

This, he said, would make exporters eligible for government’s  stimulus plans and export support grants.

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has sensitised critical stakeholders in preparation for the proposed training of farmers and other key players in the agricultural value chain, in export business.

The sensitisation programme which held on Thursday in Aba had participants from the South-East geopolitical zone of the country.

The stakeholders were sensitised on the proposed training on identified Good Agricultural Practices gap factors and Good Safety Standards Certification required in export business.

In his keynote address, NEPC’s Executive Director, Mr Olusegun Awolowo, said it was the Export Expansion Programme (EEPC) intervention scheme under the National Economic Sustainability plan of the Federal Government.

He said it was targeted in the non-oil sector to expand the MSMEs and promote export businesses to grow the economy in the face of the economic hardship posed by COVID-19 pandemic.

Awolowo, whose address was read by Mrs Roselyn Ekanem, Head of NEPC, Aba, said the selected programme for the six geo-political zones, was informed by the selection of 10 strategic products to drive the implementation.

He said the farmers and other value chain operators in 20 selected states would be trained in the 10 products to change the export of non-oil products narrative.

The executive director said the products included : cashew, cassava, cocoa, ginger, leather, palm oil, sesame, shea nut/butter, soya beans, spices and tomato.

The resource person, Mr Anthony Ajuluchi, said one of the key interventions of the EEFP was to identify and address capacity gaps in both downstream and upstream sectors of the export value chain.

According to him, the EEPC addresses the gaps through training on best practices and food safety standards for farmers of selected export crops and barriers to trade for MSME processing companies.

Ajuluchi, who is the NEPC Head, Owerri, said there would be certification in key areas for farmers and processing companies to improve their attractiveness to and chances of accessing export markets.

He said the stakeholders would be trained by different research institutions including: Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) and National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI) and others.

The workshop was attended by officials of NEPC, representatives  of different branches of the Chamber of Commerce and state Ministries of Trade and Investments among others.