The Nigerian Export Promotion Council, (NEPC) has trained 50 onion producers and marketers on export procedures, government incentives and other value chains to enhance their businesses in Sokoto State.
NEPC trade adviser and head of Sokoto zonal office, Mr Yahaya Ahmad-Sukaraiju, said the training was part of the agency’s efforts to sensitise business owners on onion value chains.
Ahmad-Sukaraiju described export incentives as a catalyst for boosting non-oil export in Nigeria and urged business owners to enlist their items through the regulated modalities.
He reiterated that onion was selected in Sokoto State following the initiative of ”One State, One Product” programme, adding that the activity was aimed at creating awareness for business owners on incentives in the NEPC to enable them become beneficiaries.
In his presentation, an assistant director from the NEPC headquarters, Malam Aminu Lawal, spoke on the key functions of the council, its legal framework and functions, stressing that incentives were provided to make the Nigerian economy viable.
Lawal further explained that the NEPC was conducting several free trainings across the nation to build the capacity of businesses through value addition for export, saying it would have multiplier effects on the economy of the country.
Other presentations were made by NEPC officials, Mrs Adulugba Anne and Mr Abubakar Kolo on ease of doing business and prospect of onions in the international world.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, the chairman, National Onion Producers and Merchants Association, Alhaji Aliyu Maitasamu, thanked the NEPC for efforts in boosting the growth of the non-oil sector and encouraging exports.
Maitasamu noted that his members’ constrains remained non acceptability of traded money in denominations of African countries, where they faced difficulties in repatriating trade in spite of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) platforms.
