Sterling Bank, Centre Partner on Nigeria’s Non-oil Export Capacity

Sterling Bank Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of the Pan-Atlantic University to certify graduates of its newly established Non-Oil Export Academy.

This is part of efforts to make Nigerian exporters more competitive at the global market and reduce the country’s dependence on oil revenue.

Sterling Bank’s managing director and chief executive officer, Abubakar Suleiman, speaking at the signing of the MOU, said the collaboration was designed to strengthen Nigeria’s export ecosystem by equipping entrepreneurs with the proper knowledge, tools, and competitiveness to thrive in global markets.

“We are not just training people to understand how to export; we want to train them to be competitive exporters of non-oil products. Our goal is to build a community of knowledgeable, certified, and confident exporters who can collaborate to solve challenges beyond their immediate capacity. Our North Star is a future where hundreds of graduates of this programme are ready to compete on a global scale,” Suleiman stated.

The EDC director, Dr Nneka Okekearu, while noting that the partnership is a natural extension of its long-standing work in developing MSMEs, expressed strong optimism about the impact of the academy, noting that the export market has suffered years of neglect and needs a structured intervention.

“Having spent the last 23 years deepening the competencies of entrepreneurs, we understand what is required. With the right standards and mindset, those passing through this programme will help create not just a better Nigeria, but stronger, more sustainable communities,” she said.

Beyond boosting export capacity, Suleiman said the initiative reinforces Sterling Bank’s commitment to investing in human capital as a catalyst for economic transformation. The Non-oil Export Academy is expected to run four cohorts annually beginning in 2026, producing certified exporters equipped to scale their operations and compete internationally.