Shettima to Open Second Non-oil Export Conference Today

James Emejo in Abuja

Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to deliver the keynote address and declare open the second national conference on non-oil export in Abuja, today in Abuja.

Other dignitaries expected to grace the occasion include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, Governor of Benue State, Dr. Hycinth Alia, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Doris Anite and her counterpart in the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Senator Saidu Alkali as well as Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Hon. Zaphaniah Jisalo.

The two-day conference, with the theme: “Building a Sustainable National Economy through Non-oil Export,” was organised by the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), and offers stakeholders the opportunity to take stock of the state of the non-oil export sector, recharge and reignite actors in the non-oil export value chain to live-up-to, and surpass their expectations as well as proffer solutions to the country’s emerging economic and trade challenges.

Addressing journalists about the event, Executive Director, NEPC, Dr. Ezra Yakusak, said the theme aptly reinforces the need to keep the conversation on the revitalisation of the economy on the front burner.

He said, “Expediency dictates that the vagaries and vulnerabilities around oil which have placed uncertainties on what future it beholds, means that Nigeria must seek other ways of diversifying her economy.

“In this regard, consistent stakeholder engagement, using the conference as a pivot for galvanising policymakers, economic pundits, development partners, and more importantly the exporting community is key to proffering solutions to some of the challenges affecting the sector, especially in the area of trade facilitation, access to affordable finance and the issue of the infrastructural deficit.”

The maiden edition of the conference was held in April 2022, with the theme: “Export for Survival: Optimizing Nigeria’s Non-Oil Export Potential,” after which a 19-point communique was issued.

Yakusak said, “I am glad to inform you that the Council has worked tirelessly to implement the issues raised in the communique. For example, the council has established and launched additional three Export Trade Houses (ETHs) in Lome, Togo, and Nairobi in Kenya, and just recently in Hunan Province in China.

“Similarly, a Trade in Services Division has been established under the Office of the Executive Director in line with recommendations of the last conference.”

However, the conference would be the first direct public engagement of NEPC with the highest echelon of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since it took over the reins of government.