The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has trained 60 youths in Imo, on the value of non-oil export for economic emancipation.
Executive Director of the NEPC, Mr Ezra Yakusak, who declared the training session open in Owerri, on Thursday, described Nigeria’s youths as “an economic treasure yet untapped”.
Yakusak, who was represented by the NEPC’s Trade Promotion Advisor in Imo, Mr Anthony Ajuruchi, said that statistics had shown that there were over 70 million Nigerians youths, hence the need to harness the potential in the youth.
Speaking on the theme, “Mainstreaming Youth Activities Into Non-oil Business”, Yakusak said that the sensitisation was organised to enlightenment the youths on the fundamentals of non-oil export trade.
According to him, non-oil export is a sure engine for Nigeria’s economic growth, considering the dwindling prices of crude oil products in the international market.
“Gathering you for this enlightenment cannot be at a better time than now, with the NEPC’s new mantra of ‘Export for Survival’; we must achieve youths inclusiveness in non-oil export for the nation to survive.
“It is my wish that this workshop as packaged, would motivate you to think about non-oil exports as a business option and another way to survive since crude oil has failed to take us to the promise land,” he said.
The state Commissioner for Labour, Employment and productivity, Mr Ford Ozumba, thanked NEPC for helping to diversify the state’s economy, boosting revenue and fighting unemployment, poverty and hunger.
Ozumba, represented by a senior staff of the Ministry, Mrs Olivia Umeh, said that the state government was committed to effective partnership with NEPC for youth empowerment.
“The need for a swift transition to non-oil export cannot be overemphasized because the relationship between the global oil market and the Nigerian economy means that whenever the oil market sneezes, Nigeria catches cold.
“We, therefore, extend hands of fellowship to NEPC, hopeful that with the youth-friendly initiatives of Gov. Hope Uzodimma, Imo will be on the path of sustainable economic growth and development”, he said.
One of the participants, Miss Ezinne Nwakuba, a beneficiary of the Federal Government’s N-Power programme, thanked NEPC for helping her export honey to the US and promised to help other youths achieve their dreams.
Also, Mr Daniel Chigozie, who exports food items to Zambia, urged the youths to embrace non-oil export so as to enable the younger generation build a country which everyone would be proud of.
(NAN)
