NEPC Harnesses Football Talents for Export

James Emejo in Abuja

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has launched the Football Talent Hunt initiative to serve as a veritable platform for advancing its “Export for Survival” campaign to promote goods and services for export.

The Executive Director/Chief Executive, NEPC, Dr. Ezra Yakusak, at the opening of the maiden talent scout which was organised by the council in collaboration with the GP777 Football Academy, said the initiative will also help to diversify the country’s non-oil export base.

He said the consequences of over-dependence on oil have precipitated the need to diversify the Nigerian economy through the export of goods and services.

Yakusak stressed that services export remained one of the non-oil export sectors that have significantly contributed to the economic growth and development of the country.

He said the initiative was in line with the NEPC’s statutory mandate to promote the export of services, adding that the football talent hunt remained one of the strategies adopted to mainstream the youths in export activities through the Youth for Export Programme.

He said, “You will agree with me that football is the most popular sport in Nigeria and has become a significant source of national pride. Our country has produced some of the most talented and successful football players in the world. However, we believe that there are many more talented young people in our country whose skills are yet untapped.”

He said, therefore, the initiative seeks to identify and develop young footballers with exceptional skills and nurture them to become world-class players.

He said, “Our goal is to create a sustainable pool of talented football players who can represent Nigeria on the global stage. Through this programme, we also hope to create a positive impact on the Nigerian economy by promoting football as a viable career option for young people who may eventually export such services.”