The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has embarked on the sensitisation of Imo youths to embrace non-oil exports for more sustainable economic benefits.
The programme is being carried out in conjunction with the NobleGoal Community Development Initiative (NCDI), a Non-Governmental Organisation.
The workshop, which took place at the Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Secretariat on Wednesday, was attended by 85 youths from the area.
In a speech, the Executive Director of the council, Dr Ezra Yakusak, advised the youths to think export as a means of survival and livelihood.
Yakusak, represented by NEPC’s Trade Promotion Advisor in Imo, Mr Anthony Ajuruchi, spoke on the theme: “Mainstreaming the activities of youths into non-oil export business”.
He described Imo youths as passionate, resourceful and full of energy and capable of transforming the economy of Imo and the country at large.
According to him, white collar jobs are hard to secure and crude oil is fast diminishing.
“It will be desirable to see our youths taking the lead in non-oil exports business in the nearest future.
“With the establishment of export trade houses in some parts of the world, including Egypt, Togo and Kenya, by the Nigerian Government, the volume and value of Nigerian exports are expected to grow.
“Considering the robust energy in our youths, the nation depends on you to achieve this objective.
“Don’t fail to think exports now, the survival of this country rests on the strength of non-oil exports,” the NEPC boss said.
He thanked NCDI for its effective collaboration which, he said, was already yielding desired results.
He also thanked the Ahiazu Mbaise council management and Imo chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) for mobilizing the youths for the workshop.
In a speech, the Director-General of NCDI, Mr Princewill Duru, said that the workshop was designed to train and equip the youths with knowledge of the production, packaging and exportation of non-oil products.
Duru expressed the group’s willingness to partner with community leaders and other organisations to subsidise the cost of training the youths in their areas of interest.