The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has revealed that the country has generated $2.5 billion from non-oil exports between January and June of this year.
Speaking during a one-day workshop for emerging exporters in Owerri, Dr. Ezra Yakusak, the Executive Director of NEPC, highlighted the significant revenue achievement. He indicated that based on this milestone, the council is optimistic about surpassing its 2022 revenue of $4.8 billion by the close of 2023.
The event, themed “New Exporters: Panacea for Non-Oil Exports Growth,” aimed to provide guidance to recently registered exporters. Yakusak encouraged these newcomers to seek insights from experienced peers and suggested that successful exporters share their experiences to expand the non-oil export landscape in both Imo State and Nigeria overall.
He stated, “This workshop is designed to boost the morale of new exporters by learning from existing, successful exporters. Increasing the number of participants in the export sector will contribute more revenue to the state and enhance the growth of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). We are hopeful that our progress will surpass the achievements of the previous year.”
Mrs. Lilian Moses-Okoro, the Chief Executive Officer of Ivyl Foods, recounted her success in exporting products to Canada, the USA, and the UK. She advised new exporters to remain dedicated to their product growth and urged them to register their businesses with NEPC for enhanced brand development and access to future business support opportunities.
Adeola Ilechukwu from Cannif Trust Ltd. drew attention to a decline in Nigeria’s catfish exports, stating that the future of the country’s economy heavily relied on non-oil exports. She encouraged exporters to find solutions to their challenges and emphasised the importance of seeking avenues to bolster their endeavours.
The workshop attracted over 100 new exporters from Imo.
