From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
An initiative that would ginger the South East zone of Nigeria to reclaim its lost glory of contributing immensely to the global economy through non oil exportable products was the focus of a four day workshop/seminar which ended in Enugu at the weekend.
It was organized by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, (NEPC) for various business and agro allied organizations across the zone and was held within the premises of Enugu state chamber of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA).
The workshop tagged,”Export Business Roundtable,South East 2025″ was themed “South East Nigeria’s Export Future;- Trends, Opportunities and Challenges”.
Experts who spoke at the event described agricultural products such as Cassava and red palm oil from South East zone of Nigeria as among the global best that are on very high demand in the international market.
In his lecture delivered at the main event on Wednesday, February 19, Dr Nnaemeka Onyeka Obiaraeri, the Executive Director, Taurus Oil and Gas Ltd, emphasized that he conducted a research which unveiled the rich agricultural potentials in every part of the South East zone and consulted willing foreign investors but the unwillingness of the political leaders at both states and local government areas to provide the enabling environment derailed the investment.
Dr Obiaraeri made a clarion call for re investments in agriculture to enable the South East zone reclaim it’s lost glory in the global economy.
An expert in Export and International trade,Prof.John Isemede in another lecture outlined the economic advantages of exporting local products to countries where they are of high demand as a guide to intending exporters.
Earlier in her key note address,the Executive Director of Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, Nonye Ayeni, said the South East zone has abundant agricultural products grown in the best organic farming tradition, which is highly sought for internationally and what is needed is to manufacture such commodities in commercial quantities.
Her words, “South-East has great potential for export business as everything done here is done naturally and highly sought for internationally; and all we need to do is to educate our people on export business and mentor them to success.
“A lot of international cash crops, notwithstanding our natural minerals, are abundant here and even our vegetables in the South-East are in high demand globally.
“From available studies, the zone has the capacity to lead other zones in export business and turn the poverty around us to land of plenty for all and make the zone an export hub.
“Every single individual needs to go back to the farm and be serious with agriculture and do it in the best international practice for the agricultural produce to meet international specification,” she said.
Ayeni noted that the NEPC would provide technical and mentorship assistance to struggling and aspiring exporters in the South-East, international certification and any other assistance possible to ensure the zone grows in export business.
In her own speech, the Chief Executive Officer of DGC Express, Dr Queen ONYINYE Okpa, harped on the vital need of networking and connectivity among intending exporters for a better teamwork and understanding.
She stressed the South East zone has the capacity to lead in the nation’s quest to reign in exportstion of products.”Once the South-East gets export business right, Nigeria will get it right”.She cautioned intending exporters to abide by best international practice of organic agriculture to attract gains of carbon credit to our farms as well.
The Royal fathers of South East origin who attended the Export Business Roundtable organized by NEPC for South East business men gave their blessings to the initiative.
The Obi of Onitsha,Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, in.his transmitted speech, urged business men from the South East zone to embrace exportstion as a means of expanding their business scope,increasing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the zone and enriching themselves.
He commended NEPC for the initiative,stating the South East zone are known for their enterprise in commerce and trade.
His words,’ I commend the organisers of this roundtable and the NEPC for investing in bringing knowledge and pathways to a successful and gainful export business”.
The Enugu state Chairman of traditional rulers Igwe Samuel Asadu, represented by Igwe Uchenna Anikwe, the Traditional Ruler of Diogbe Community, in Nsukka local government area advocated for massive cultivation of fertile lands abundant in the zone, as a means of satisfying both local and export demand of agricultural products from the South East zone.
He stated, “When state and local governments convert available forests to agricultural sites, those committing heinous crimes and hiding in the forests will see nowhere to hide and they cannot easily commit the atrocities in towns where everybody lives.
“If, we take advantage of this event and what we have been exposed to; I sincerely believe that with or without federal allocations, all states within the zone can strive and her people will be more productive to earn enviable living.”
Participants from Abia and Imo states were tutored on the best measures to get involved in Export business on the programme tagged , “Export clinic”on the second day of the event,Thursday, February 20, while participant’s from Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra states had their on turn of Friday, February,22.
The Saturday, February 22, programme tagged,”Export Creativity” featured exhibition of made in Nigeria products, comprising of packaged food products, local fabrics, arts etc good for both local and the international market.
One of the exhibitors,Dr Ngozi Ndu Nwagu,,the Executive Director of Clask pharmaceutical company Ltd,Enugu,told newsmen that one of the challenges confronting local manufacturers is lack of enabling environment from the government to enhance their operations.
She expressed hope that the workshop will help to expose some of the local manufacturers to gain acceptance both in the local and International market, expressing optimism that the quality of the so called locally manufactured products are as high as the foreign manufactured products.
Speaking to news men at the end of the four day event, the NEPC Regional Manager, Mr Macpherson Fred Jeugban, expressed hope that the aim and objectives of organizing the workshop was achieved. He said it provided opportunity for business men and manufacturers of various products to interact, agree to network and work relatively with NEPC in the ultimate goal of marketing their products in the international market.
The Export Business Roundtable for South East zone organized by Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), was held barely a month after the Enugu Export Committee reiterrated it’s commitment to massive production of non oil exportable products from the state as a measure of boosting Enugu state economy,during it’s first quarterly meeting of the year.
