NEPC, ITC partner on improving women’s competitiveness

Acknowledging the fact that women enterprises form an integral role for growing an all inclusive economy, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has partnered the International Trade Centre to equip about 480,000 Nigerian women for the global market.

Indeed, a report by Mckinsey Global Institute reveals that $28 trillion could be added to global Gross Domestic Product by 2025 by advancing women equality therefore laying credence to the fact that economic development and gender equality go hand-in-hand.

The Chief Executive Officer, NEPC, Olusegun Awolowo, stated that this move was powered by a programme called SHETRADE that would help women overcome some of the constraints they face at the global market, stressing that a special desk has been created for the realisation of the initiative.

According to him, most women cannot compete favourably with their male counterparts in business except a separate clime is created for them as a result of multi-dimensional constraints, adding that this was why the scheme was initiated to help address the constraints.

The NEPC also charged Nigerian exporters to take full advantage of e-commerce platforms to propel non-oil export trade, noting that the old and crude market penetration strategies are fast bowing out for technologically driven methods globally.

The NEPC boss stated this at a workshop on leveraging e-commerce for international trade in Lagos, recently.

He however stated lack of market access has continued to be one of the greatest constraints to small holder producers around third world countries, maintaining that deploying the use of information technology would go a long way to change the face of business transaction with e-commerce occupying a special place.

Awolowo who was represented by the Deputy Director, National Export Office, NEPC, Mrs. Veronica Oriere, called on Nigerian businesses to acquire appropriate skills that would make them to be visible globally.

According to him, the council is in partnership with International Trade Centre (ITC) to use a programme called SHETRADE to take over 480,000 Nigeria women to the international market.

Also speaking at the event, the Regional Coordinator, South West, NEPC, Babatunde Faleke, said the aim of the workshop was to break all the barriers hindering the growth of international trade, stating that SMEs are still being faced with the challenge of taking their goods across the border, but stressed that with the help of information and technology, the challenge would be addressed.