Trade Promotion Advisor, NEPC, Ibadan Smart Office, Mr Joseph Ogungbade, stated this at a stakeholders’ consultative forum held in Ibadan where a roadmap for non-oil export development in Oyo state was drawn.
Noting that Oyo state was endowed with a variety of agricultural products, mineral resources, Ogungbade restated the commitment of the NEPC to mandating states to focus on a minimum of one farm produce that is able to meet the export needs of the country.
He said such focus would encourage the involvement of large volume exporters as well as Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, thereby adding to Nigeria’s export portfolio.
On its own part, he said the NEPC was set to introduce a new incentive scheme aimed at encouraging states to boost their non-oil exports.
Consequently, Ogungbade enlisted states to key into the One State-One Product Initiative of the NEPC with a view to enhancing the diversification of Nigeria’s export trade and promoting the development of export-oriented industries across the country.
In her remarks, Oyo Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, Mrs Taibat Adeyemi-Agaba lauded the decision of the NEPC to open Smart offices across the country, as impactful on the resolve of the federal government to diversify the economy from oil exportation.
Adeyemi-Agaba noted that the NEPC smart offices would greatly assist exportation and development of non-oil export commodities and improve the nation’s economic fortunes.
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