NEPC positions south-south youth entrepreneurs on export promotion
provision of N500,000 to the Co-operative Society formed by participants of the graduating batch as seed capital. The programme is anchored on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement led by the consultant, Kola Awe, of EPT Logistics International Limited.
The South-south (Niger Delta) zone in particular is said to be of particular importance to the development and promotion of non-oil export as a major contributor to Nigeria’s GDP, NEPC stated. “If nothing, but to show that apart from oil there are other products that Nigeria can rely upon to grow her economy.
“So far the programme has trained and graduated over 200 trainees from the Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja centres. Most of the trainees have formed registered Cooperatives, and are already exporting.
Earlier in her opening remark, Pauline Ndulaka, who represented the Regional Coordinator, South-south, said the Zero to Export programme of NEPC was meant to create a pool of investors. She urged the graduands to effectively utilize the knowledge they acquired.
Congratulating the participants, the Project Coordinator, Kola Awe, urged them to dig deep and bring what they learnt. “Port Harcourt has shown itself to be ready for export. Port Harcourt is the flagship of the South-south,” he added.
Emmanuel Nwankwo, who represented the permanent secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Commerce, assured the participants of adequate Cooperative Society grooming by the Ministry which he said would improve their skills. Nwankwo revealed that the Ministry of Commerce, which he said is Sme-friendly, would soon open an SME Clinic in the state.
Most of the participants expressed gratitude to the NEPC. Abraham Princewill Chibueze, who served as course representative during the training, described the programme as essential and eye-opening, adding that they were taught how to start the export business and use it to improve their lives while also contributing to the diversification of Nigeria’s economy.