Training of entrepreneurs boosts export potential, says NEPC boss

Kindly Share This Story:

Training for entrepreneurs boosts export potential, says NEPC boss

The Executive Director of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and champion for zero-oil export, Olusegun Awolowo, has said capacity building for entrepreneurs will boost Nigeria’s export potential.

He spoke on Nigeria’s zero-oil export policy yesterday, alongside other stakeholders at an event hosted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) flagship platform, EMPRETEC, in Lagos.

Themed ‘’Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development: A review of the Entrepreneurship Policy Framework,’, the event was organised as part of EMPRETEC’s mandate to train and enable entrepreneurs in developing countries with the potential to succeed.

Awolowo highlighted 22 products under three categories – cocoa, cashew and sesame that the NEPC has identified to drive its Zero Oil Policy.

Against this backdrop, the Executive Director reinforced the focus of NEPC on processed goods than raw materials and its interest in collaborating with small and medium scale businesses through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

On the impact of the AfCFTA on the promotion of Nigerian businesses, Awolowo recalled that “during the discussion phase, African entrepreneurs were the most optimistic about the agreement which is key for export diversification.With the AfCFTA in motion, small and medium scale businesses all around the continent can depend on Nigeria to provide goods and services”.

According to him, “entrepreneurs are vital for economic viability, but the true instrumentality of entrepreneurship is nestled in effective training; because if we do not train our entrepreneurs we cannot generate significant value for money. Export-related training is integral to the work at NEPC. Through local and international partnerships, including the Women in Export partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC), and quality infrastructure programmes in collaboration with the United Nations Development Organisation (UNIDO), the Council has trained entrepreneurs across diverse aspects of the value chain and has connected them to the global market.”

Co-panellists at the event, include Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, Chief Executive Officer, the Tony Elumelu Foundation; Yewande Sadiku, Executive Director, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission; Charles Anyawu, Head, SMEs, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund.


Kindly Share This Story:

Related Post

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

amehnews greetings

x
%d bloggers like this: