The Abuja World Trade Center (WTC) says Nigeria accounts for 70 percent of global yam production, yet only 11 percent of the produce is exported.
David Oke, head of trade services at the center, spoke on Tuesday at the sixth edition of LinkedIn Local Abuja, themed ‘Multidimensional Intelligence for Career Prosperity’.
Oke encouraged young entrepreneurs to explore Nigeria’s yam export potential, stressing the importance of research in building sustainable wealth.
“So how can we begin to leverage that (yam production) if we are producing that much? Can we export more?” Oke asked.
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“Can we get people from Benue and other yam-producing states to package it for the export market? Can we fix our standardisation problem?
“The same issue applies to fish, vegetables, sesame seeds, and many other products that can drive national development.”
‘TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NIGERIA’S GROWING DIASPORA COMMUNITY’
Oke highlighted the rapid growth of the Nigerian diaspora community, which has made Nigerian food and fashion increasingly popular in Australia, London, and other parts of the world.
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According to him, Africa is poised to become the next hub for global trade, and Nigeria must capitalise on its human capital by involving young people in international trade.
Oke further noted that the government has various programmes and policies, such as the ECOWAS trade liberalisation scheme (ETLS) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) protocols, which can be leveraged by youths to expand trade opportunities.
Also speaking at the event, Elsie Nemieboka, a human resources specialist and psychologist, emphasised the importance of mental toughness in the workplace.
She said resilience helps employees navigate organisational politics and remain focused on their goals.
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Nemieboka defined mental toughness as the ability to persist and remain determined in the face of obstacles, even when efforts go unrecognised, to achieve set objectives.
