By Felix Khanoba
iProduce Africa, an agribusiness hub sponsored by the Islamic Development Bank, has put in place mechanisms to boost the operations and export capabilities of Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Agri-Entrepreneurs.
The move is in line with the Federal Government’s policy at promoting non-oil exports to reposition the nation’s economy for better performance.
The Nigeria’s Zero-Oil plan is also a blueprint for a strategic non-oil export-led economic diversification agenda.
A statement signed by Aisha Waziri-Umar, founder/Chief Executive Officer of iProduce, which was obtained by The AUTHORITY in Abuja, said the organisation will train Nigerian owned agribusinesses and SMEs, especially young Agri-Entrepreneurs, on the requisite technical skills to equip them on how to export their produce.
The statement said the move will intergrate them into global food value chains.
“iProduce will also train the SMEs and Agri-Entrepreneurs on how to access finance, including non-interest funding, for their export activities,” Aisha Waziri-Umar, said in the press statement.
“Agribusiness exports present a significant opportunity for job creation to absorb the youth bulge and improve the livelihoods of young people who make up the majority of the population.
“We are forming partnerships with the relevant government ministries and agencies and I’m confident that iProduce will play a vital role in the diversification of the Nigerian economy,” she added.
According to the statement, ss part of ongoing effort to make agribusiness export simpler and increase awareness on the available opportunities in the various global food value chains, iProduce Africa will on November 20, 2021 hold a training workshop for SMEs on the theme: ‘Accessing Non-Interest Finance For Agribusiness Exports’.
“Experts will be engaged by iProduce to train and advise Agri-Entrepreneurs on how to take advantage of the Nigeria’s non-interest banking windows to secure financing for the export of high quality agric commodities,” Mrs Waziri-Umar said.
The AUTHORITY reports that dince August, 2021, when it was formally launched by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo, iProduce Africa has trained about 500 farmers on various areas of agribusiness including livestocks, fruits and vegetables, garments, among others.
It has held several training workshops since inception even as it plans to train at least 1,000 Agri-Entrepreneurs in 2022 and back them with the relevant agribusiness advisory services.
