Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC)

Folashade Adeniran
Apr, Tue, 2025

Enhancing export: NEPC distributes 4,633 hybrid seedlings to farmers

218 total views today

By Vivian Emoni

The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) says it distributed 4,633 hybrid seedlings to farmers across the country.

Dr Nonye Ayeni, Director-General of the NEPC, disclosed this while presenting the First Quarter Progress Report on the non-oil export performance for 2025.

Ayeni said that in Kogi, farmers benefited from oil palm seedlings as a start-up seed intervention to boost exports.

“In Akure, over 2,000 cocoa seedlings were distributed to farmers for the planting season.

“In Gusau, Zamfara State, groundnut seedlings were distributed to eight communities for cluster farming in the state.

“Also, in Bayelsa State, the council distributed 1,500 hybrid cocoa seedlings,’’ she said.

Ayeni further said that 1,100 coffee seedlings and 100 bags of organic fertiliser were distributed to 148 coffee farmers from Chaha and Vom communities in Plateau State.

The director-general said that NEPC was committed to ensure conformity to quality and standards, to curb rejects and reduce contract cancellation.

According to her, the council is working with International Trade Centre (ITC), Geneva, to validate the baseline study for sesame and cowpea value chains.

Ayeni said the council was selected as one of four Business Support Organisations in the world and only one in Africa, to implement phase one of the Women Exporters in Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund.

“This 50-million dollars fund, launched in February 2024 by Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, will support Women-led Businesses to participate actively in global digital trade.

“Applications have begun in earnest and we encourage every women-led business to apply,” she said.

The DG said that to facilitate the ease of doing business and seamless documentation processes, the council registered a total of 1,129 new exporters.

She also noted that 16 exit points were used in the period under review to export non-oil products from Nigeria.

She added that approximately 95 per cent of the total non-oil exports were routed through seaports.

According to her, in total, six seaports, three international airports and seven land borders serve as exit points for Nigeria’s non-oil exports.

Ayeni said that the council would continue to strengthen its relationship with developmental partners and trade organisations.

“The council will continue its existing projects as well as new initiatives, all geared toward increasing the volume and value of non-oil export.

“The NEPC will remain to be committed in curbing rejects, promoting value addition, enhancing market access and strengthening partnerships.

“At NEPC, we remain resolute and committed to driving up the volume and value of non-oil exports for sustainable and inclusive economic growth,” she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Jane-Frances Oraka

NEPC trains over 8,000 women entrepreneurs on digitalisation, others

Folashade Adeniran
Mar, Wed, 2025

General News

NEPC trains over 8,000 women entrepreneurs on digitalisation, others

412 total views today

By Vivian Emoni

The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has trained and supported no fewer than 8,000 women entrepreneurs on digitalisation, packaging, labeling among others, from 2019 till date, to boost trade.

Mrs Nonye Ayeni, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the council, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja, at the Hershowcase Event, with the theme: “Trade Beyond Borders”.

The programme was organised by NEPC in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC).

Ayeni said the event was designed to facilitate business networking, market connections and product exhibitions for Women-Led Businesses.

She said the council supported women-led businesses with certifications to enable them access different markets.

“The council supported women-led businesses through various other initiatives, which include capacity building programmes to enhance their export readiness and competitiveness.

“These programmes focus on various topics including; export procedure and documentation, export market strategy, packaging, labeling, branding, as well as digitalisation and e-commerce.

“The NEPC has trained and supported over 8,000 women entrepreneurs from 2019 till date.

“Under this initiative, about 125 women have been sponsored to acquire certifications, such as Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and ISO 22000 free of charge,’’she said.

The director-general said the council had been selected as one of the Business Support Organisations (BSO) to implement phase one of the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) project.

She said that the development was as a result of the inauguration of the World Trade Organisation/International Trade Centre, WTO/ITC, WEIDE Fund project in February 2024.

“Only four BSOs were selected out of 600 that applied and NEPC was selected to represent Nigeria as the only African country on the list.

“This is great news for the country and for our women as the WEIDE Fund,”she said.

Ayeni said that the project aimed to support women entrepreneurs in developing and least-developed countries to adopt digital technologies and expand the online presence of their enterprises.

She said that Nigeria joined the ITC SheTrades Initiative in 2016 and pledged to support the UN goal of connecting three million women worldwide to the global market by 2021.

She added that the council, as the SheTrade Hub in Nigeria, worked assiduously in partnership with ITC and other relevant agencies and institutions.

According to her, under the partnership with ITC for the SheTrades Initiative, over 5,000 Nigerian women have registered from 2018 till date.

She said in the next two days, women led-businesses would have the opportunity to connect with industry leaders, share experiences with fellow women entrepreneurs and showcase their innovative products and services.

Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, said that government recognised the importance of women as a vital strategic pillar of the economy.

Oduwole said that women had always been at the heart of Africa’s economic activity from carrying goods across borders to managing businesses and producing high-value products for export.

She said that the SheTrades Nigeria was established to break down any barriers and empower Nigerian women to thrive in trade.

“SheTrades provides women entrepreneurs and producers with access to key knowledge, resources and networks, support policymakers on inclusive policy reforms, leverage public, private partnerships to amplify the impact of our work,’’ she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Remi Koleoso/Vivian Ihechu