The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has called on oil palm farmers in Abia State to organise themselves into clusters as a strategy to scale production and tap into the nation’s growing non-oil export market.
The advice was delivered at a one-day capacity-building programme held in Aba, themed “Leveraging Cluster Principle to Boost Production of Palm Oil for Export.” The event brought together farmers, processors, and stakeholders in the oil palm value chain.
Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director/CEO of the NEPC, said that while Abia State possesses the natural and entrepreneurial assets needed to thrive in agriculture, its non-oil export sector remains underutilized. Represented by Okechukwu Amaechi, Acting State Coordinator of the NEPC in Abia, Ayeni said the state’s fertile land, tropical climate, and enterprising population give it a natural edge in palm oil and cash crop production.
She emphasised that Nigeria’s economic diversification strategy and renewed focus on non-oil exports present a timely opportunity for Abia to boost agricultural exports. The adoption of the cluster principle, she explained, is key to unlocking this potential.
The cluster model encourages the geographic concentration of interconnected businesses, suppliers, and institutions. According to Ayeni, this approach fosters collaboration, drives innovation, and promotes healthy competition—factors that can elevate the palm oil sector into a viable export contributor. She added that NEPC’s goal is to cultivate a dynamic cluster system that stimulates economic growth, generates employment, and enhances the livelihoods of farmers and agribusinesses in Abia.
Also speaking at the event, His Royal Majesty Eze Rowland Alozie, President of the Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria (OPGAN) in Abia State, appealed to the State Government to back the group’s effort to access a ₦4.7 billion loan facility from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Eze Alozie noted that the CBN had promised to extend the loan to OPGAN, contingent upon a state government guarantee. However, he expressed disappointment that the previous administration did not approve the request. He believes that with access to the funds, OPGAN would be able to establish a modern processing facility that meets international export standards and enhances the sector’s competitiveness.
As Nigeria seeks to strengthen its non-oil export earnings, the NEPC’s call for cluster development in Abia’s oil palm industry reflects a broader push to build structured, export-ready agricultural value chains across the country.
