The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has urged Nigerian students to explore opportunities in the non-oil export sector. This call was made by the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of NEPC, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, at the launch of the NEPC-National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Student Trade, Entrepreneurship and Export Programme (STEP-X). The programme aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills required to transform their ideas and businesses into export-ready enterprises.
Ayeni emphasized that Nigeria's youthful population represents a major economic asset that must be deliberately harnessed for national development. She noted that young Nigerians are already developing businesses and products in areas including agriculture, agro-processing, fashion and textiles, technology, creative industries, and digital services. However, many of these businesses have yet to take advantage of export opportunities due to limited knowledge of international markets, export procedures, and quality standards.
The NEPC boss highlighted the Council's recent achievements in promoting Nigeria's non-oil exports. In 2025, Nigeria recorded non-oil export earnings of about $6.1 billion, representing an increase from $5.46 billion recorded in 2024. During this period, 281 products were exported to 120 countries. Ayeni also disclosed that the Council conducted 728 training programmes in 2025, reaching 96,221 people through its 36 state and regional offices.
Ayeni further disclosed that NEPC has provided international certifications to 210 small and medium-sized enterprises free of charge under its Go Global Go Certification initiative. This brings the total number of beneficiaries to more than 600. The Council is also training women and youths in bag and shoe making through its Export Skill Acquisition Centre in partnership with Lelook, with more than 300 people already trained out of a target of 1,000.
The partnership with NANS will enable NEPC to reach students across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. STEP-X will focus on export readiness, international market research, documentation, quality and standards, packaging, digital trade, and access to global markets. Ayeni encouraged students to take the programme seriously and make use of the opportunities available to them.
Ayeni noted that the initiative is aligned with the Federal Government's Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on economic diversification, youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, job creation, productivity, and private-sector development. She called on participants to engage actively with facilitators and other stakeholders throughout the programme. The National President of NANS, Comr Akinteye Babatunde, represented by the Secretary General, Comr. Oladimeji Uthman Salawudeen, noted that the programme is a laudable project that will help launch students from classrooms to the global market.
The programme aims to turn the creativity of Nigerian students into businesses that take Nigerian products and ideas to the world. With this initiative, more Nigerian students would be benefiting immensely from international trade, which will also add to the country's foreign exchange earnings. The NEPC and NANS partnership seeks to empower Nigerian students for non-oil export and global entrepreneurship, providing them with the tools and knowledge necessary to compete in the global market.
Key points
- - The NEPC recorded non-oil export earnings of about $6.1 billion in 2025. - The Council conducted 728 training programmes in 2025, reaching 96,221 people. - NEPC provided international certifications to 210 small and medium-sized enterprises free of charge.
