Olufemi Boyede: Poor quality of non-oil exports sends wrong signal to foreign countries

Olufemi Boyede, chief executive officer (CEO) of Koinonia Global Services Inc., has explained why non-oil products from Nigeria to other foreign countries are rejected.

Boyede explained reasons, alongside other international traders at the September edition of a monthly webinar series tagged, ‘Talking trade with Femi Boyede’.

At the webinar, they noted that despite the huge export potential of the country, many exporters are yet to come to terms with the basic requirements of international trade.

Boyede said that some non-oil exporters send a good sample of their products to their clients but end up sending poor quality products when they execute the real orders.

“That is not too good. It is sending wrong signals to the market. There is a need for uniformity in the quality of products. In your preparation stages, spend as much time as you need to spend to do enough research on the products before exporting,” he said.

According to him, yam from Nigeria is not allowed in Canada.

“But the Ghanaian can come to buy yam from Nigeria and send it from their country, and the yam will be accepted,” he said.

“What has happened is that the Ghana exporter has done his due diligence and understands what the Canadian government (through its regulatory authorities) require.

“That is why we are saying there is a need for policy engagement between Nigeria and countries where our products are needed.”

Boyede urged exporters to do their due diligence for every product they want to export.

On her part, Elizabeth Nwankwo, CEO of Oklan Best Foods, said there were policies and technical requirements for non-oil exporters to succeed in their trades.

She said there was a maximum percentage of preservatives that could be applied to farm produce for it to be accepted in the foreign market.

“In the case of beans, for instance, the percentage is 0.01 microgram of glycole that is required in the beans if it is to be accepted,” she said.

Nwankwo added that smoked fish that harbours excess smoke were rejected in developed countries.

In his contribution, Abdullahi Aliyu, CEO of A.S. Dynamic Ventures Limited, said it was sad exporters taste the hardship of export before learning.

He advised that the government agencies educate exporters properly before they start their business.

“We have agencies of the government that are supposed to guide exporters. The problem of product rejection has a big implication for the country,” Aliyu said.

“It is the image of the country that is at stake when products are rejected. 

If there is a stigma on made-in-Nigeria products, it has far-reaching effects.”