Lagos:The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), in collaboration with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has introduced the Students Trade, Entrepreneurship and Export Programme (STEP-X) to enhance students’ participation in the global market through entrepreneurship and export skills.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the initiative, unveiled in Lagos, aims to equip students with the necessary skills and certifications to succeed in the global market. The programme, themed ‘From Campus to Global Market Empowering Nigerian Students for Non-oil Export and Global Entrepreneurship,’ will be implemented across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The Executive Director of NEPC, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, explained that STEP-X is designed to boost certified non-oil exports and create employment through entrepreneurship mentorship. The certification process will allow exporters to access niche markets and meet international standards, especially within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Ayeni highlighted that Nigeria’s non-oil export earnings reached about $6.1 billion in 2025, marking a significant increase from the previous year. The council’s efforts included 728 training programmes impacting over 96,000 individuals, and the Go Global Certification programme has provided international certifications to 210 SMEs for free.
In partnership with Lelook, the Export Skill Acquisition Centre (ESAC) is training women and youths in bag and shoe making at the NEPC office in Apapa, with a target to train 1,000 individuals. NEPC has also onboarded over 70 SMEs on Jumia to enhance the accessibility of Nigerian goods abroad.
The council is working with the International Trade Centre to reduce export rejections and is implementing the STDF 845 project to improve the acceptance of Nigerian sesame seed and cowpea internationally, using the Kebbi sesame cluster as a pilot.
Additionally, NEPC has been selected for the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund, providing support to 141 women-led businesses. The National President of NANS, Comrade Babatunde Akinteye, commended STEP-X as a transformative initiative that encourages students to become self-reliant and employers of labor. He urged students to leverage the programme to enhance their entrepreneurial capabilities.