By Florence Onuegbu
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), in collaboration with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has unveiled the Students Trade, Entrepreneurship and Export Programme (STEP-X).
The programme, unveiled in Lagos on Thursday, is aimed at equipping students with entrepreneurship, export skills and certifications to enable them participate in the global market.
The Executive Director of NEPC, Mrs Nonye Ayeni, said that STEP X, with the theme, “From Campus to Global Market: Empowering Nigerian Students for Non-oil Export and Global Entrepreneurship,” would be replicated across the six geopolitical zones.
Ayeni said that the programme was designed to increase certified non-oil exports and accelerate employment creation through entrepreneurship mentorship.
She said that the certification would enable exporters to access niche markets, meet international quality standards and participate actively in the global market, particularly through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Records on non-oil export performance show that Nigeria earned about $6.1 billion from non-oil exports in 2025, the highest figure ever recorded for formally documented trade since the council began.
“It is about 11.5 per cent more than the $5.46 billion earned in 2024. In all, 281 different products were sold to 120 countries,” the executive director said.
She said that the council conducted 728 training programmes in 2025 and impacted 96,221 people through its 36 state and regional offices.
Ayeni said that the council, through its Go Global Certification programme, provided international certifications to 210 SMEs for free, bringing the total number of certified SMEs to more than 600.
“We have started another round of certifications, so if you have products, you can apply if you qualify,” she said.
Ayeni said that the Export Skill Acquisition Centre (ESAC), in partnership with Lelook, was currently training women and youths in bag and shoe making at the council’s office in Apapa.
“We have already trained over 300 women and youths and the target is 1,000. This is an opportunity for direct job creation under the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President,” she said.
Ayeni said that the council had onboarded more than 70 SMEs on Jumia, to make Nigerian-made goods easier to access abroad.
According to her, this will reduce selling costs and open new markets through digital trade and e-commerce.
She said that NEPC, through training and retraining, in collaboration with the International Trade Centre, had recorded fewer export rejections.
The executive director said that the council was implementing the STDF 845 project to reduce the rejection of Nigerian sesame seed and cowpea in international markets.
She said that the Kebbi sesame cluster was being used as a pilot for the initiative, which would be replicated across the six geopolitical zones.
Ayeni also said that NEPC was the only institution in Africa and one of four institutions globally selected for phase one of the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund.
She said that 141 women-led businesses had received training, mentoring, export-readiness support and grants ranging from $5,000 to $30,000.
Also speaking, the National President of NANS, Comrade Babatunde Akinteye, described STEP-X as a laudable initiative that would help students move from classrooms to the global market.
Akinteye, represented by the Secretary-General, Comrade Oladimeji Salawudeen, said that the four walls of the classroom should not only be for academic learning, but should also prepare students to become self-reliant and employers of labour.
“Some of our students are already entrepreneurs who make shoes, various kinds of bags, clothes and fabrics, beads, kuli-kuli, among others,” he said.
Akinteye urged students to take advantage of the programme to develop their entrepreneurial skills and explore opportunities in the global market. (NAN)www.nannews.ng
Edited by Vivian Ihechu
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