The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) on Friday sensitized cooperative societies and other groups in Anambra state to embrace non oil export promotion to boost Nigeria economy.
Executive Director of NEPC, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, in a keynote address at the stakeholders forum on “Developing the Nigeria Agricultural Value Chain for Export through Effective Cooperative society Formation and Management in Awka, said, depend on oil to boost Nigeria economy was no longer viable.
Awolowo, represented by the South East Regional Director, Mr. Arnold Jackson, while commending, Gov. Willie Obiano’ support for the development of non-oil promotion in the state, said that the role of Cooperative society has become sacrosanct in revolutionalising the Nigeria Agricultural landscape.
According to him, cooperative Society is a veritable tool in propagating and increasing export trade.
“An endeavor which may be difficult to achieve by an individual is easily dispensed by a group of individuals in the spirit of cooperative society.
“Cooperative society therefore, plays an increasing important role worldwide in poverty reduction, facilitating job creation, access to credit, economic growth and social development,” he said.
Awolowo affirmed that the establishment in recognition of the role of Cooperative society in non-oil export promotion would accept besides a limited liability company registration, the cooperative society registration for issuance of exporter’s certificate which is qualification to in formal export in Nigeria.
He said that Federal government preferred to disburse loan under cooperative/cluster arrangement than individuals, which can be seen from the success of the Anchor Borrower Scheme of the Central Bank of Nigeria in especially, Zamfara, Kebbi, Kano, Katrina, Kaduna, Plateau, Adamawa, Niger, Sokoto, Ebonyi, Cross River and Lagos states.
“Cooperative society provides the platform for which individuals with no strong financial standing could become valuable players in wealth creation activities in the nation.
“Small holders farmers have opportunity to aggregate their strength to benefit from economy of scale and significantly contribute to Nation’s economic development through their activities in areas of production, processing, manufacturing, marketing etc,” he said.
Awolowo assured Anambra state of continue collaboration to develop the non-oil export on the state.
Senior Special Adviser to the state governor, Dr Okey Okwuosa, said the state is endowed in agriculture, stressing the Anambra International Cargo Airport due to open in April would be handy to export the agricultural produce to outside world.
He commended the organisers of the event for choosing to sensitize cooperative society members in the state.
NEPC’s Trade Promotion Adviser, Awka Smart Office, Mrs. Jane Ohiri, said, she was overwhelmed with the over 200 participants in the one-day workshop.
She urged the participants not to relate to show more dedication in the export promotion activities