The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) in Ondo has urged Nigerian entrepreneurs and producers to expand their products into international markets for greater profit.
The state Coordinator of NEPC, Mrs Iyabode Abe, made the call on Friday in Akure at a one-day training on Zero2Export Programme for Beginner Exporters.
Abe said the move was necessary to boost the country’s exportation in the non oil sector of the economy for Nigeria’s growth and development.
According to her, NEPC understands the fundamentals of exporting and its benefit, and it is always ready to assist potential exporters.
“There is the need to enhance competitiveness of the country’s products in the global market.
“This training will equip participants with adequate knowledge on market research, global compliance to standard, export documentation and certification to penetrate international market.
“I urge stakeholders to collaborate with NEPC in a bid to improve exportation of the country’s products in the non oil sector,” the state coordinator said.
Similarly, Mrs Anne Adulugba, Training and Information Department of NEPC, Abuja, said the exercise was designed to help prospective exporters achieve their dreams.
“Export is quite complex. This training will help them to understand complexities of export business, to give them the practical hands-on things,” she said.
Adulugba stated that over 100 participants had benefited from the training in the state, while more Nigerians were showing interest in such trainings.
According to her, participants will be well equipped with prerequisite knowledge that will enable them to train others.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Commerce, Mrs Toyin Oni, said the training would allow young entrepreneurs in the state expand their products’ market.
“This will ensure that the marketing of the participants’ products will not be limited to their immediate environment.
“They will learn some standards and requirements that will make their products have international qualities and standard.
“This will expand their revenue base and productivity, and bring economic development to the state and the country at large,” she said.
Oni explained that the state government had been supporting NEPC’s activities and other programmes that could promote Medium and small scale enterprises in the state.
According to the permanent secretary, the state government has also disbursed money in recent times to boost MSME in the state.
“The government has also provided logistics and support to make the environment secure and safe for entrepreneurship.
“Government has acquired land to provide a large trade fair complex that will allow entrepreneurs and producers exhibit their products.
Also, Mr Oluwaseun Akadiri, Chairman, National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), said the training was the right step in the right direction.
“The training will counter the ignorance that has taken many small scale industrialists and producers by the jugular.
“It is a good one because it will enlighten us. There are many opportunities for us, but ignorance is the problem. There are many produce, but there is no market.
“There are many non-oil exports from the country but carried out by foreigners.
“Africa on its own, is a large market to sell our products and this will give us more income, rather than limiting ourselves to our immediate environment,” he said.
