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The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has launched the Students Training Entrepreneurship Export Programme (STEP-X) to harness the potential of Nigerian youths and equip them with the skills needed to participate in the global export market.
The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEPC, Mrs Nonye Ayeni, disclosed this in a statement signed by the council’s deputy director and head of corporate communications, Aliu Seidu Sadiq.
Ayeni said youths constitute more than 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population, stressing the need to channel their energy and creativity into productive ventures through export training.
She explained that STEP-X was designed to equip students with entrepreneurship and export skills, as well as relevant certifications, to enable them to participate in the entire export value chain and compete effectively in the global market.
According to her, the programme, themed “From Campus to Global Market: Empowering Nigerian Students for Non-Oil Export and Global Entrepreneurship,” would be replicated across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
Ayeni said youths as not only the future of Nigeria but also the drivers of tomorrow’s economy, noting that they could serve as agents of change and influential contributors to national economic development.
She said young Nigerians were developing businesses, products and innovative ideas across various sectors, including agriculture, agro-processing, fashion and textiles, technology, creative industries and digital services.
She noted that many of these businesses were yet to take advantage of opportunities in the export sector due to limited knowledge of international markets, export procedures, documentation, quality standards and certification requirements.
The NEPC chief executive said STEP-X would address these knowledge gaps, simplify export processes and encourage young Nigerians interested in venturing into export businesses.
“This is why we came up with the theme, ‘From Campus to Global Market’. Our goal is to make the journey from a hostel room or campus workshop to the international market shorter, clearer and achievable,” she said.
Ayeni disclosed that more than 250 students from higher institutions in Lagos and Ogun states participated in the maiden edition of the programme.
The event also attracted the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and zonal representatives from some key institutions.
In the statement, the Minister of Youth Development and All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth Leader in Lagos state, Mr Damilare Orimoloye, encouraged Nigerian students to take advantage of opportunities in the export sector to create jobs and build sustainable businesses.
He commended NEPC for the initiative and urged other government agencies to emulate the council by supporting efforts to promote job creation and wealth generation.
Similarly, the NANS National President, Comrade Babatunde Akinteye, said the STEP-X as a laudable initiative that would help students transition from the classroom to the global marketplace.
Akinteye said youths, who constitute more than 60 per cent of the country’s population, could be mobilised and trained in different aspects of the export value chain to promote economic growth and development.
He assured the association’s readiness to partner with NEPC in implementing export programmes that would benefit students and young Nigerians across the country.
Akinteye also said the importance of training students in all aspects of exporting Nigerian products and services, noting that the programme would equip them with the necessary skills to navigate the export sector after graduation.
He further called for the establishment of export hubs on campuses across the six geopolitical zones, with dedicated personnel responsible for training and mentoring students.
According to him, the proposed hubs would provide a valuable platform for connecting students and young Nigerians with relevant knowledge, expertise and institutional support.
The association also proposed a national summit titled “Students Export and Entrepreneurship Initiative: From Campus to Global Market,” with the theme “Empowering Students for Non-Oil Export and Global Entrepreneurship.”
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