NEPC trains 200 youths on export promotion

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has trained and graduated over 200 youths from Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja in the last three years on export promotion skills to boost foreign exchange earnings for the country.

NEPC stated that most of the trainees have formed registered cooperatives and are already exporting.

It also assured that it will continue to create opportunities for Nigerians including youths to cultivate interest in export related businesses through capacity building training programmes as it celebrates the passing out of 62 trainees of Zero to Export Capacity Building Programme.

According to the council, the Zero to Export Programme had been part of the Council’s efforts to reposition the non-oil sector, enforcing the narrative of the Council through job creation and inclusive growth thereby making it a major contributor to the Gross Domestic Product of Nigeria.

The Zero to Export initiative is one of the flagship programmes of the Council that focuses on creating new generation of Nigerian exporters through practical and theoretical training of business executives, bankers, Civil Servants, unemployed graduates and even retired citizens with interest in export business.

The programme is anchored on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement led by the Consultant of EPT Logistics International Limited, Mr Kola Awe.

The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEPC, Olusegun Awolowo disclosed this at the Batch 5 Zero to Export graduation ceremony in Abuja.

Awolowo noted that apart from job creation, it is hoped that the programme would bring about high value addition to non-oil products and services in the country at a time when the nation needs to revive its manufacturing, agricultural and industrial sectors.

He added: “There is no doubt that the essence of our gathering today underscores the crucial role that non-oil export sector plays in the present administration’s effort at diversifying the Nigerian economy away from over reliance on oil as its mainstay, especially with incessant fluctuations in oil prices.”

Represented by Director Product Development, William Ezeagu, Awolowo assured the graduates that, “NEPC will continue to encourage Nigerians to take advantage of the diversification process of the government through the promotion of non-oil export activities.”

The Council announced a provision of Five Hundred Thousand Naira to the Co-operative Society put together by participants of the graduating batch, which is expected to serve as a seed capital to enhance smooth take-off of the Co-operative Society engaging in export business.