NEPC trains 52 Sokoto SME owners on AfCFTA advantages

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), has commenced the training of Small- and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SME) on African Continental Free Trade Association (AfCFTA) in Sokoto state.

Mr Ahmad Yahaya, the Zonal Head and Trade Promotion Advisor of NEPC, Sokoto Smart Office, disclosed this on Monday in Sokoto.

Yahaya said the business owners are trained on how to harness the full potentialities of AfCFTA, registration guidelines, statutory institutions and other business windows.

He said no fewer than 52 SME owners have so far benefited from awareness training, stressing that the activity would be extended to others.

According to him, the council is concerned about all the advantages of AfCFTA and reiterated commitment to assist Nigerians on ways to maximally benefits with opportunities.

The Trade Advisor maintained that AfCFTA has come to stay and urged everyone to make use of the advantages for their individual and group benefits.

He emphasised the importance of AfCFTA to SMEs development and urged business owners to make use of the opportunity and get their products registered with relevant agencies so as to benefit from all available opportunities.

Mr Ben Achor delivered a paper titled, “Harnessing the advantages of AfCFTA,” where he advised small-scale business owners to take full potential of the availability of the market.

Achor, who is from the legal department office of NEPC, said the legal unit of the agency is ready to furnish any intended exporter of how to go about it and make their profits.

He commended business owners in Sokoto state for their continuous support to the agency by regularising their papers as at when due.

Another Resource person, Mrs Ngozi Ojekwe, also from the legal department of NEPC, delivered a paper titled, “Geographical Indications to improve the Non oil sector”.

Ojekwe dwelt on business prospects, product quality, regulatory compliance and entertained questions on various issues.