In its drive towards boosting non-oil exports in Ogun State, the State Committee on Export Promotion (SCEP) says its collaborative efforts with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has led to the training of over 1,000 exporters and intending exporters on the exportation of different products.

The SCEP is made up of representatives of relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies involved in the process of exportation of goods working in collaboration with the NEPC.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment, Dr. Olu. Ola. Aikulola who also doubles as the Chairman, SCEP made this known in Abeokuta during the Committee meeting held for the first quarter of 2024 stating that the trainings cut across various products and value chains including adire, shea, cocoa, cashew and others.

 “The SCEP has worked hand in glove with the NEPC which has led to the training of over 1,000 exporters and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Ogun State. Over 300 entrepreneurs were trained on adire exportation, over 100 MSMEs were trained on the use Digital E-Commerce for export through Amazon, over 150 farmers and processors were trained on cocoa value chain export with input distributed to participants.”

“Also, I must add that over 200 corps members were trained on utilizing Digital Space to export. There were also trainings for over 150 cashew value chain stakeholders and 50 MSMEs on Horticultural/Agro-Produce Export. 30 MSMEs were also trained on non-conformity in shea products export among others” the chairman said.

Aikulola who lauded the NEPC State Co-ordinator, Mrs Fransisca Odega for her efforts added that the achievements thus far recorded were not limited to trainings as exporters and MSMEs in the State have been assisted to acquire international product certifications such as the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Food and Drug Administration Export Certificate for Food, ISO 22000 and Kosher.

Encouraging intending exporters to export their products formally and register with the NEPC, the SCEP chairman said five exporters were sponsored on international certification programme with certification of their products on the global market while another set of ten exporters from the State participated in the East Meet West Trade Missions to Nairobi, Kenya held last year.

In her remark, Odega said Ogun State was improving in its drive on boosting non-oil exports adding that the State recorded the highest exporter registrations in Nigeria in the year 2023 with 2,105 exporter registrations.

The State Coordinator who commended the State Committee on Export Promotion for being supportive to the NEPC disclosed that efforts were on to ensure exporters benefit from grants urging more intending exporters as well as those exporting informally to register with the Council.