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 business.
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 is 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 the incentives in NEPC to enable them to become beneficiaries.
In his presentation, Malam Aminu Lawal, an assistant director from NEPC headquarters, dwelled on the key functions of NEPC, legal framework and functions stressing that incentives were provided to make the Nigerian economy viable.
Lawal further explained that NEPC was conducting several free training 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 onion products in the international market.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Alhaji Aliyu Maitasamu, the chairman National Onion Producers and Merchants Association, thanked NEPC for their efforts in boosting the growth of the non-oil sector and encouraging export.
Maitasamu noted that his members constrains remains 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.
