MSME clinics: NEPC empowers 12,665 youth, women  

The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), says about 12,665 women, youth and less privileged have benefited from empowerment programmes under its Micro-Small Medium-Sized Enterprise (MSME) clinics.

Its Executive Director, Mrs Nonye Ayeni said this while appraising the Non-Oil Export Performance for the year 2024, in Abuja on Friday.

She said that over 587 women-led businesses also benefitted from capacity building and women in export programmes and MSME clinics across the six geopolitical regions in the country.

“Other programmes are export inclusiveness to audit/needs and participation in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) trade exhibitions, among other things.

“Total of 12,665 women, youth, and persons with special needs have been empowered through Micro-Small Medium-Sized Enterprise (MSME) clinics.

Nigeria’s non-oil exports hit $2.7 bn – NEPC

“They were also empowered through the support of Women in Export programmes and Youth for Export Development Programmes (YEXDEP),” she said.

Ayeni said that the council, as the secretariat of the implementation committee for Export Expansion Grant (EEG) facilitated the submission of EEG baseline data for 2022/2023.

She said that 188 exporters had successfully submitted their baseline data on the web portal, while efforts were ongoing for processing EEG rates accruable to beneficiaries.

The NEPC boss noted that a total of 4,824 new exporters were registered online in 2023, compared to 3,715 exporters for the preceding year.

“While active exporters grew by 21.4 per cent in 2023 to 12, 325 in the 2024, showing improved export readiness. The e-registration portal is a 24-hour service,” she said.

According to Ayeni, the council will ensure that the volume of the non-oil export and its attendant increase in foreign exchange earnings continue its upward trajectory.

She said the programmes align with the President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, targeted at job creation, poverty alleviation, economic growth and diversification of the economy.

“The NEPC remains resolute and committed to driving up the volume and value of non-oil export for sustainable and inclusive economic growth”.

The executive ditector said that the Nigeria’s non-oil products made a positive impact in the global market, as it penetrating markets across 126 countries.

According to her, this figure reflects an increase compared to the 124 recorded in the year 2023.

“These countries include among others, Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.

“In terms of the import values of non-oil products from Nigeria, the Netherlands, Brazil, and Malaysia emerged as the top three countries, respectively.

“It is also noteworthy to mention that two new countries, the Central Africa Republic and Eswatini, have emerged as importing countries from Nigeria for the year 2024”.