Nigeria’s economic existence will be ensured, according to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).
This was said by Dr. Ezra Yakusak, Executive Director/CEO of NEPC, during a news conference announcing the NEPC Export Week, which will take place from November 21 to November 26.
Yakusak emphasised that Nigerians must support non-oil exports since they are essential to boosting the economy, creating more jobs, and reducing insecurity in the nation.
Yakusak called the council’s first event of its sort, the Export Week, and said it was part of NEPC’s strategic objectives to instil, uphold, and enhance an export culture in the non-oil export ecosystem.
“This we will implement through series of engagements with key stakeholders within the exporting community and indeed the general public.
“Only recently, precisely in April 26 and 27, 2022, the Council held its maiden National Conference on Non-oil Export with the theme “Export for Survival: Optimising Nigeria’s Non-Oil Export Potentials”.
“The conference provided a veritable platform for stakeholders in the non-oil export sector to ventilate ideas on current and emerging issues affecting the non-oil export sector.
“In this wise, the Export Week is a continuation of that engagement with critical stakeholders and discerning members of the public.
“The objective is to keep the “Export4Survival” campaign in the front burner of national discourse using the Export Week as a strategic information and communication tool to change the narratives,’’ he said.
The head of NEPC believes that the Export Week would pave the way for successful business and sector-led activities and assist entrepreneurs, particularly Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), in searching for new prospects in the industry.
“Therefore, it is vital for these businesses to have the support and information they need to become successful.
“It is against this backdrop that the Council has lined up series of events to mark the Export Week.
“However, it is important to state that one of the key objectives of the Export Week is to highlight the significance of exporting to the country’s economy by strengthening and deepening interactions and partnerships with relevant stakeholders in the public and private sector,’’ he said.
The ultimate objective, according to Yakusak, was to make sure that the planned events would serve as a venue for widespread recruitment of people into the non-oil export network.
“We want Nigerians to step into the reality that the only way to guarantee our economic survival is through non-oil export.
“We are therefore embarking on a massive sensitisation and renewed partnerships with the private and public sector, not just at the national level but also at the sub-national level,’’ he said.
He claimed that the council decided to hold the Export Week as a result of a rise in non-oil export earnings to $2.6 billion from January to June 2022.
The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, will launch the “Export4Survival” Campaign during the Export Week, and there will be a symposium with the theme “Strengthening the Non-Oil Export Sector for National Development.”
The Export4Survival walk, an inclusivity day for women and young people in export, and a variety show and gala night scheduled for Thursday, November 24 are additional events.
Yakusak stated that the Exporters’ Award and Gala Night, which will take place on November 26 in Lagos, will honour and recognise exporters who consistently record notable triumphs, thereby promoting the expansion and improvement of the nation’s economy.
