The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), the Federal Government apex agency responsible for the promotion of non-oil exports has once again put the country in the global scene. This time around, it is not in the area of sports but the feat was achieved through export promotion activities. On 25th October, in faraway France, Nigeria competed with other 10 countries for awards in three different categories. The country emerged winner in the Best Initiative to ensure trade is inclusive and sustainable alongside Mauritius, Mongolia and Peru.
The WTPO Awards was open to all National Trade Promotion Organizations (TPOs). It is designed to recognize and celebrate TPOs that excel in innovative and effective practices in export development initiatives. According to International Trade Centre (ITC), the arm of World Trade Organization responsible for trade facilitation across the world, the winning organizations have to show that they helped Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to become competitive in international markets.
To achieve this feat, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council had been up and doing to put the Nigerian economy back on track. Since the inception of this present administration, the agency knew the challenges confronting the Nigerian economy viz-a-viz getting the country out of recession and repositioning the economy for sustainable and inclusive growth. The NEPC under the leadership of Olusegun Awolowo, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer came up with a robust plan known as Zero oil Plan to support the implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan of the Federal Government. The Plan was conceived with the assumption of Nigeria without oil and provides alternative non-oil export products that can earn the country triple revenue of what the oil can offer in terms of foreign exchange, job and wealth creation as well as opportunities for the infrastructural development of the country.
The implementation of the Zero oil Plan by the agency led to the creation of several initiatives and programmes that have direct impact on the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). For instance, the Zero to Export Capacity Programme Initiative that won the WTPO award is a product of the Zero oil Plan designed to give capacity to a particular category of exporters that have zero knowledge of export or exportation. This particular programme has benefitted more than 3000 Nigerians, led to the formation of several Co-operative groups for export purposes and the impact on the economy also contributed to the country early exist from the recession orbit. There are other programmes such as Export Skills Acquisition Programme (ESAP) and Export Clinic that are all geared towards promoting the MSMSe for rapid development of the Nigerian economy.
The WTPO award is a reflection and recognition of the significant contributions of the non-oil export sector to the GDP of the economy. For Nigeria to have emerged winner among highly rated countries with substantial value for export show the commitment and doggedness of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council amidst paucity of funds to carry out its activities. While other government agencies groan under the paucity of funds, the NEPC undaunted by this fiscal challenge considered the pulse of the nation and know that the diversification of the non-oil export sector is the solution to the myriad of economic problems of the country confronted the challenges head-on.
To kick-start the crusade, the Executive Director/CEO made a fantastic presentation of the Zero Oil Plan to the Federal Executive Council, the National Assembly and other critical stakeholders in the OPS. The Plan received general commendations and was eventually captured in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, a Mid-Term Plan of the Federal Government to that focuses on the diversification of the economy. In a systematic and deliberate plan to ensure the successful implementation of the Plan, the NEPC restructured the agency for functional and operational efficiency. Under the new arrangement, there seven departments created in line with World Trade Organization Standards. In addition, the Agency established 6 Regional and 22 SMART offices to effectively deliver on its services.
Despite the challenge of funding, the agency initiated a number of programmes with International Organizations like UNIDO, USAID, JICA, and CBI of Netherlands to vigorously implement the Zero oil Plan. Another remarkable achievement under this collaboration was the Export Competency Development Programme with the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing countries (CBI), Netherlands. The programme gave training capacity to NEPC staff and selected 12 SMEs in a rigorous but transparent exercise in three priority sectors: Cocoa, Cashew and Sesame. At the end of the training which spanned over a period of two years, the successful exporters embarked on Sales Awareness Mission in the Netherlands and ANUGA show in Germany. The attendant effect of this training on the exporters, the NEPC and the Nigerian economy is massive and enviable. The exporters are now making impact in the international markets and more than $2 million may have been earned from different export transactions.
With the support of government by way of complimentary funding, the NEPC is positioned to take the country to greater heights. The 0.5% allocation to the agency is grossly inadequate to support the implementation of laudable programmes and projects designed for the upliftment of the MSMEs and the export sector. The Agency has made advocacy to the National Assembly on the need for increase in funding, especially the Export Development Funds (EDF) for pre-shipment support to MSMEs and Export Expansion Grant (EEG) to assist manufacturing exporters in particular, exporting under an excruciating harsh economic environment. Access to finance and infrastructural deficiency have major challenges affecting export from Nigeria. As laudable as the programmes of NEPC, without addressing these twin issues exporters in Nigeria will continue to be less competitive in the community of exporting nations as far as non-oil export is concerned. Take for instance the One State One Product (OSOP) initiative of the NEPC that gives the leverage to the state to develop and promote one priority product from each state of the federation as alternative product to replace oil. As at today, not all the state governments have key into the scheme despite elaborate campaign and advocacy in this respect. They do not see it as a viable project or quick return on investment. Obviously, this is not because most developed nations of the world today depend and survive on exports.
Therefore, this writer join forces with other well- meaning Nigerians to ask for more funding for the operation of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council. The WTPO Award is for all Nigerians and deserve to be celebrated the same way the country would have celebrated the Super Eagles if they were to the world cup. The Government may wish to restore the 1% allocation to the NEPC as was in the 80s when the activities were not as much as today. In addition, the government should also restore both the Export Development Fund and Export Expansion Grant to the Agency. This will go a long way to spur the agency win more international awards and rejuvenate the economy of the country.
Written by Aliu S. Sadiq from Kuje, Abuja.
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