Abuja: The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) is seeking partnership with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to train Nigerian students on export development and promotion. The Secretary-General of NANS, Oladimeji Uthman, highlighted this initiative during a visit to the NEPC headquarters in Abuja, where he and other representatives of the association met with the NEPC CEO.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Uthman commended the Executive Director/CEO of NEPC, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, for her leadership and commitment to youth empowerment. He praised NEPC’s efforts to enhance the non-oil export sector and create opportunities for youth in the export value chain. Uthman emphasized the potential of training the youth, who make up more than 60% of Nigeria’s population, with export skills to foster economic development.
Uthman expressed NANS’s readiness to collaborate with NEPC on initiatives benefiting Nigerian students and youth. He advocated for training programs focusing on various aspects of exporting Nigerian products and services, which would equip students with essential skills for their post-graduation careers. He proposed the creation of export hubs in universities across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, where NEPC personnel could provide training and mentorship.
Uthman suggested organizing a national summit aimed at educating students on export-related topics, structured around six pillars: training, identification, development, connectivity, exposure, and skills. In response, Ayeni acknowledged the vibrant and entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerian youth and assured NANS of NEPC’s commitment to collaborate on promoting export development among students.
Ayeni detailed NEPC’s youth-focused programs, including the establishment of a unit dedicated to women, youth, and persons with disabilities, and the Export Skills Acquisition Centre (ESAC), which trains youth in garment and bag making. She mentioned that the center has successfully trained over 1,000 youths, resulting in high-quality exports. Additionally, Ayeni noted that NEPC organized 728 capacity-building programs across Nigeria in 2025, benefiting over 10,000 participants.
The visit concluded with Ayeni being honored as a National Ambassador of NANS. Regarding the proposed national summit, Ayeni instructed relevant NEPC departments to work with NANS in planning the event.