The Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, has reaffirmed its commitment to building a sustainable non-oil export sector capable of contributing significantly to national economic growth.
Executive Director of NEPC, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, stated this while receiving participants of Strategic Management and Policy Studies Course 8/25 from the Nigeria Army Resource Centre at its corporate headquarters in Abuja.
Ayeni outlined the Council’s mandate and core functions, describing it as Federal Government’s apex agency for promoting and diversifying Nigeria’s economy from overdependence on oil.
According to a statement by NEPC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Aliu Sadiq, the NEPC boss expressed the Council’s readiness to extend its curriculum to the Nigeria Army Resource Centre to broaden participation in the export ecosystem.
She informed participants that the agency operates an export academy that has trained personnel from various institutions across the export value chain.
Responding, the team leader, Prof. Okey Ikechukwu, thanked the NEPC management for hosting the delegation and equipping participants with practical export knowledge.
Ikechukwu noted that the visit formed part of the course requirement for participants to engage key government agencies and assess policy implementation as it relates to sustainable development and national security.
He explained that the eleven-month executive programme is designed for senior military officers of colonel rank and above, alongside their counterparts from security and intelligence agencies and Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs.
Activities during the visit included a technical workshop facilitated by NEPC officials.
The first paper provided an overview of the Council’s operations and strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening the non-oil export sector.
Participants also received training on export procedures, documentation, registration requirements and participation guidelines.
The second presentation, delivered by Product Specialist Mr. Paul Ajayi of NEPC’s Product Department, focused on exportable products and value-chain development.
Participants were exposed to product identification, classification, sourcing, development, packaging and other pre-export processes. In total, 35 senior military officers benefited from the exercise.
While delivering a vote of thanks, one of the participants, Dr. Bello Murtala, commended the Council for the capacity-building session and expressed interest in exploring export opportunities, which he described as lucrative and capable of generating wealth and employment.
He also urged NEPC to intensify nationwide sensitisation to encourage more Nigerians to embrace export business.
