The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has distributed 23,239 hybrid seedlings and farm inputs to 3,047 farmers nationwide, in a push to strengthen the country’s non-oil export sector. The initiative, part of the council’s Corporate Social Investment, includes cocoa, sesame, and oil palm seedlings aimed at improving the quality and quantity of export commodities.
Presenting the first-half 2025 Non-Oil Exports Performance Report in Abuja, the NEPC chief said the intervention has boosted production capacity for global markets. In addition, over 150 small and medium enterprises have benefited from the council’s Export Mentorship Programme, which paired 60 exporters from various states with five top-performing exporters for hands-on training. The mentorship, she noted, has increased participants’ confidence and competence in export procedures and documentation.
The council also organised sensitisation workshops in Lagos and Kano to promote market opportunities along the species value chain. More than 100 SMEs were briefed on global market requirements and export prospects for their products.
While acknowledging ongoing challenges in the export sector, the NEPC pledged to continue driving growth through diversification, in alignment with the Federal Government’s agenda to create jobs, reduce poverty, and expand the economy beyond oil. The council reaffirmed its commitment to increasing the volume and value of non-oil exports for sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
