Nigeria Content Online

In an attempt to
unlock the untapped potentials of Nigerian women and increase their
contribution in export trade, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council
recently conducted a training for women in export business.

Speaking at the
training on Tuesday in Abuja, Usman Gwandu, a director in the Ministry
of Commerce and Industry, who represented Jibril Martins-Kuye, the
Minister of Industry, said that if Nigeria is to realise its full
potential, gender issues which are at play in economic, social,
political, and other spheres ought to be addressed.

Mr. Gwandu said
many international and national initiatives have been undertaken to
address gender-related issues in society, but very little has been done
to exploit the opportunities that women contribute to national
development.

“In this context,
NEPC-Women in Export Development programme set a centre stage for the
development of the Nigeria women in the export sector”, an initiative
which, according to him, is worthwhile, relevant and commendable.

“Obviously, the
export sector can play a fundamental role in transforming the country
when targeted interventions are made in shaping the minds and actions
of Nigerian women. Vision 2020 can also be achieved when production
activity and potential of both men and women are recognised, harnessed,
and utilised,” he said.

The NEPC-Women in
Export Development Programme is aimed at mainstreaming gender
perspective, using relevant, targeted support policies and services to
empower Nigerian women’s capacity, competence, and competitiveness in
non-oil export trade.

Encouragement for women

David Adulugba, the
executive director of Nigerian Export Promotion Council, said an
increasing number of women now participate in processing of
agricultural products, and harnessing their potential for export is
necessary.

“The women
population is high in Nigeria and much of the interventions are not
directed at them. They have the capacity, the ability, the patience,
the natural endowment, and they are more in the rural areas. So, we are
focusing on them to exploit their potentials, and help them to develop.
We are encouraging women to look for local resources around them and
produce not only for Nigeria, but for the international market.”

The idea is that
women in rural areas should form cooperatives, which NEPC will link
with exporters who need their products. The products will be packaged
to international standards.

Mr. Adulugba stated
that “NEPC has 15 zonal offices, 36 state offices, and we are sieving
this down to their level, so they can relate with the offices in terms
of guidance on packaging.”

The programme
provides assistance to participating Nigerian women in core critical
export services areas, which include market intelligence, capacity
building, technical assistance, market linkages, access to finance,
export advocacy, and trade facilitation.