From rice and cassava to palm oil, processed foods and solid minerals, Ebonyi State has a range of products with the potential to compete in domestic and international markets. However, limited access to finance, inadequate packaging and difficulties obtaining quality certifications continue to constrain local entrepreneurs seeking to expand beyond their immediate markets.
These challenges formed the focus of a one-day Made-in-Ebonyi Product Exhibition organised by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Ebonyi State Coordinating Office, in Abakaliki on Thursday. The exhibition brought together entrepreneurs, government officials and regulatory agencies to explore opportunities for promoting locally produced goods in regional and international markets.
Speaking at the event, Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEPC, represented by Okechukwu Amaechi, the Ebonyi State Coordinator, said the Council is committed to making products from the state more competitive in international markets.
Ayeni said Nigeria’s non-oil export sector generated approximately $6.1 billion in export receipts in 2025, representing an 11.5 per cent increase over the $5.46 billion recorded in 2024. She described the performance as an opportunity for states such as Ebonyi to expand their participation in international trade.
She identified rice, cassava, palm oil, processed foods, solid minerals and other locally manufactured goods as products with export potential, stressing that quality, standardisation, packaging, certification and consistent supply were essential for accessing foreign markets.
According to her, adding value to agricultural produce through processing and packaging would enable businesses to earn more than they would from selling raw commodities. She added that export trade could generate foreign exchange, create employment, attract investment and empower women and young entrepreneurs.
Ayeni also highlighted NEPC’s support for eligible food processors and agricultural commodity exporters through international certification programmes, including Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and relevant United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements. She urged entrepreneurs to engage with the council to establish their eligibility for available training, audits and certification support.
On regulatory compliance, Emeka Orajaka, State Deputy Director of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), said product registration, good manufacturing practices, proper labelling and appropriate packaging were essential for businesses seeking to compete in domestic and international markets.
He explained that regulatory inspections covered production facilities, equipment, personnel, hygiene practices and manufacturing processes, while product registration involved documentation, facility inspections and laboratory analysis to ensure compliance with applicable safety and quality standards.
Orajaka warned that counterfeiting, adulteration and food fraud could endanger public health and undermine confidence in Nigerian products. Citing palm oil adulteration as an example, he urged producers to avoid adding unauthorised substances to products and ensure they met the safety requirements of their intended markets.
He further advised exporters of processed foods to understand the documentation required by their destination countries, noting that different markets might demand specific health certificates, certificates of manufacture and free sale, and other regulatory documents. He warned that products could be rejected at international borders if they failed to meet the importing country’s requirements.
The NAFDAC official also stressed the importance of accurate product labelling, including the product name, net weight, manufacturer’s details, ingredients and relevant allergen warnings. He urged entrepreneurs to approach the agency for guidance on registration and compliance rather than allow uncertainty about regulatory procedures to hinder business expansion.
Steve Odo, Commissioner for Business Development in Ebonyi State, also addressed participants at the exhibition. A representative of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) separately spoke on quality standards and market access, emphasising the importance of compliance in building confidence in locally manufactured products.
Speaking on behalf of small businesses, Ozoemena Njoku, president of the Coalition of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, said the exhibition was designed to help existing producers improve their products, strengthen their operations and expand their markets.
Njoku identified opportunities in agricultural products such as rice, dairy products, melon and vegetables, as well as solid minerals. He encouraged entrepreneurs to partner with NEPC, NAFDAC and SON to understand the requirements for formalising their businesses and preparing their products for export.
He disclosed that some entrepreneurs already possessed export licences but had yet to commence formal exports because of inadequate knowledge and support. He identified limited access to finance as another major challenge, explaining that businesses often struggled to secure loans because of financial institutions’ requirements relating to turnover and other performance indicators.
Njoku appealed to the State and federal governments to provide more support for MSMEs, particularly those seeking to improve production capacity and access international markets. He urged entrepreneurs to remain committed to their businesses and take advantage of the technical guidance, partnerships and opportunities provided by agencies supporting export development.
Ekuma Mojibade, Permanent Secretary of the Ebonyi State Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Business Development and chairman of the State Committee on Export Promotion, said the government is working with relevant agencies to improve entrepreneurs’ capacity, coordinate support for product registration and certification, and address challenges affecting business growth.
Mojibade said the State Government had invested in agriculture and MSME development, including non-interest loan arrangements, to encourage entrepreneurs to establish sustainable businesses. She added that the government would continue to sensitise business owners across the state’s 13 local government areas on improving their skills, developing competitive products and complying with relevant standards.
The exhibition highlighted Ebonyi’s potential to expand its participation in non-oil exports but also underscored the need for sustained investment in processing, packaging, quality assurance, certification, infrastructure and access to finance. For local businesses to compete successfully, producers must also understand export documentation, establish reliable supply chains and build relationships with buyers beyond their immediate communities.
As NEPC and other agencies intensify efforts to promote locally manufactured products, the success of the initiative will depend on entrepreneurs translating the knowledge, partnerships and certification opportunities available to them into increased production, formal export transactions, job creation and improved earnings.
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