The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has commended the Executive Director/CEO of Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mrs Nonye Ayeni for her exemplary leadership qualities and passion for youth development and empowerment.
In a statement issued in Abuja by Aliu Seidu Sadiq, Deputy Director, Head of Corporate Communication in NEPC said
the Secretary-General of the student Association and leader of the delegation, comrade Oladimeji uthman Fodio made the commendation during a courtesy call on the Executive Director/CEO at the Corporate Headquarters of NEPC, Abuja recently.
Comrade Oladimeji commended the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) for deepening the non-oil export sector and exposing the youth and women to various opportunities available in the export value chain. The Secretary-General further informed the Executive Director/CEO that their visit to the Council was to seek possible partnership and collaboration with NEPC in the areas of export development and promotion, especially as it affects Nigerian students.
He emphasized that the youths constituted over 60% of the nation's population and could be galvanized and trained on different aspects of export value chains for economic development and growth. According to him, the student body is ready to partner with NEPC to implement export programmes that will benefit its members and the youths of the Country.
During the visit, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) used the opportunity to articulate a number of programmes and projects the Association would like the Management of NEPC to consider for possible partnership.
Comrade Oladimeji solicited for training of Nigerian students on all aspects of export of products and services from Nigeria. This according to him, will equip the students with necessary export skills that will make it seamless for the students to venture into after graduation from the university.
In addition, the Association also requested for the establishment of Export hubs in campuses across the six geo-political zones and deployment of staff that will be responsible for training and mentorship of students as far as export is concerned. 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.
Furthermore, the Association proposed a national summit entitled, "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 will have six pillars which include training, identification, develop, connect, exposure and skills.
Responding, Mrs Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director/CEO thanked the Nigerian students for the visit and described the Nigerian youths as vibrant, passionate and entrepreneurial. According to Ayeni, the Nigerian youths are part of Nigeria’s greatest strength and form a key component of the non-oil export ecosystem. She assured the National Association of Nigerian students of the Council’s readiness to partner with them.
The Executive Director/CEO enumerated the various programmes and projects of the Council with direct impacts on the Nigerian youths such as the establishment of a dedicated Unit for women, youth and people living with disabilities. She also informed the students of the Council’s Export Skills Acquisition Centre (ESAC) established and facilitated in partnership with LeLook Academy to train Nigerian youths in the areas of garments and bag making.
According to her, the Centre has trained more than 1000 youths since inception and has produced high quality bags which have been exported to the international markets.
Mrs Ayeni also informed the leadership of the student union that the NEPC, in 2025 organized 728 capacity building programmes in 36 states of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory and over 10,000 beneficiaries.
The climax of the visit by the National Association of Nigerian Students was the decoration of the Executive Director/CEO as the National Ambassador of National Association of Nigerian Students.
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.
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