NANS seeks partnership with NEPC on student training

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has sought partnership with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to provide Nigerian students with training in export development and entrepreneurship.

Speaking in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the NEPC, the Secretary-General of NANS and leader of the delegation, Comrade Oladimeji Uthman Fodio, commended the council for its efforts in deepening the non-oil export sector and exposing youths and women to opportunities across the export value chain.

Fodio said the purpose of the visit was to explore possible partnership and collaboration with the NEPC in export development and promotion, particularly as it relates to Nigerian students.

He emphasised that youths constituted over 60 per cent of the nation’s population and could be galvanised and trained in different aspects of the export value chain to contribute to economic development and growth.

According to him, the student body was ready to partner with the NEPC in implementing export programmes that would benefit its members and Nigerian youths.

During the visit, NANS presented a number of programmes and projects it wanted the NEPC management to consider for possible partnership.

Fodio specifically solicited training for Nigerian students on all aspects of exporting products and services from Nigeria.

According to him, such training would equip students with the necessary export skills and make it easier for them to venture into the sector after graduation.

In a statement by Aliu Seidu Sadiq, the association also requested the establishment of export hubs on campuses across the six geopolitical zones, as well as the deployment of NEPC staff to provide training and mentorship to students on export-related matters.

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“The Association is confident that this initiative will provide a valuable platform for availing students and young Nigerians with relevant knowledge, expertise and institutional opportunities.”

NANS further proposed a national summit titled, “Students Export & Entrepreneurship Initiative – From campus to global market,” with the theme, ‘Empowering students for non-oil export and global entrepreneurship’.

According to NANS, the summit would be built around six pillars, namely training, identification, develop, connect, exposure and skills.

Responding, the Executive Director/CEO of NEPC, Mrs Nonye Ayeni, thanked the Nigerian students for the visit and described Nigerian youths as vibrant, passionate and entrepreneurial.

According to Ayeni, youths remained one of Nigeria’s greatest strengths and constituted a key component of the non-oil export ecosystem.

She assured the NANS delegation of the council’s readiness to partner with the association.

Ayeni also highlighted various NEPC programmes and projects with direct impact on Nigerian youths, including the establishment of a dedicated unit for women, youth and people living with disabilities.

She informed the students about the council’s Export Skills Acquisition Centre (ESAC), established and facilitated in partnership with LeLook Academy to train Nigerian youths in garment and bag making.

According to her, the centre had trained more than 1,000 youths since its inception and had produced high-quality bags that were exported to international markets.

Ayeni also informed the student leaders that the NEPC organised 728 capacity-building programmes across the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, in 2025, with more than 10,000 beneficiaries.

On the proposed national summit, Ayeni directed relevant directors in the council to work with the student body towards organising the programme.

“On the proposed National Summit, the Executive Director/CEO directed the Director, State Offices Coordinating Department, Director, Export Incentives & Development and Directors, Trade Information to meet with the student body to organize the programme,” the statement noted.