Non-oil export will guarantee Nigeria’s economic survival, says NEPC

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) says non-oil export will guarantee Nigeria’s economic survival.

Ezra Yakusak, chief executive officer, NEPC said this in a news briefing in preparation of the council’s export week scheduled to hold from November 24 to 26, 2022.

Yakusak said there is a need for Nigerians to embrace non-oil export, adding that it is critical in growing the economy, providing more jobs, and addressing insecurity in the country.

He said event was NEPC’s strategic efforts of imbibing, sustaining and deepening an export culture in the non-oil export ecosystem.

“This we will implement through a series of engagements with key stakeholders within the exporting community and indeed the general public,” the NEPC boss said.

“The export week is a continuation of that engagement with critical stakeholders and discerning members of the public.

“The objective is to keep the “Export4Survival” campaign in the front burner of national discourse using the Export Week as a strategic information and communication tool to change the narratives.”

Yakusak, also NEPC’s executive director, said the event will provide a path for business and sector-led activities to thrive as well as help entrepreneurs particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs) lookout for new opportunities in the sector.

“It is vital for these businesses to have the support and information they need to become successful,” he said.

“It is against this backdrop that the council has lined up a series of events to mark the export week.

“However, it is important to state that one of the key objectives of the export week is to highlight the significance of exporting to the country’s economy by strengthening and deepening interactions and partnerships with relevant stakeholders in the public and private sector.”

Yakusak added that the ultimate goal was to ensure that the events that were lined up would become an avenue for massive recruitment of people into the non-oil export net.

“We want Nigerians to step into the reality that the only way to guarantee our economic survival is through non-oil export,” he added.

“We are therefore embarking on a massive sensitisation and renewed partnerships with the private and public sector, not just at the national level but also at the sub-national level.”

He also said revenue generated from non-oil exports which increased to $2.6 billion from January to June 2022 spurred the council into organising the export week.