Abeokuta: The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has urged stakeholders within the solid minerals sector to focus on improved packaging and effective marketing strategies to enhance non-oil exports and support sustainable economic diversification.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Executive Director of NEPC, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, emphasized the significant potential of the solid minerals sector for Nigeria’s economic transformation during an interactive forum held in Abeokuta. Ayeni, represented by the Ogun State Coordinator, Mrs. Olajumoke Abolaji, highlighted that the sector could become a substantial source of revenue and employment, given Nigeria’s 44 commercially viable minerals.
Ayeni pointed out that the continued export of raw and unprocessed minerals has restricted the sector’s contribution to national growth and foreign exchange earnings. She identified key challenges such as the lack of value addition, inadequate packaging, limited market access, and insufficient certification and formalisation.
Ayeni stressed the importance of value addition through processing and refining to increase the global market value and competitiveness of Nigerian minerals. Proper packaging and marketing were also highlighted as essential to aligning products with international standards and attracting buyers. She outlined NEPC’s strategic priorities, including promoting value addition, strengthening export capacity, enhancing market access, and leveraging technology and innovation.
The forum also discussed the National Council on Commerce and Industry’s approval of the inclusion of solid minerals in the One State, One Product initiative to boost sectoral development. Participants were encouraged to seize available opportunities and collaborate with NEPC for sustainable development.
Mrs. Abolaji, the NEPC Ogun State Coordinator, noted the engagement aimed to transform Ogun State’s abundant mineral resources into globally competitive export products. She encouraged participants to collaborate and form partnerships to reposition the sector as a key driver of economic growth.
In a lecture on solid minerals value chain development, Mrs. Duke Oyinkan from NEPC revealed that Nigeria exported solid minerals worth $125 million in 2024, despite most mining activities remaining informal. She advocated for sector formalisation to maximise economic benefits through local processing and beneficiation.
Mr. Olatunji Salau from the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) discussed packaging and labelling requirements for solid minerals products, emphasizing the need for compliance to ensure product quality and global acceptance. He described packaging as crucial for both protection and perception, and labelling as a product’s ‘passport’ for international markets.
A participant, Mr. Moshood Balogun, praised the forum for its relevance and timeliness, noting the new knowledge and business connections gained. He highlighted the lack of finance and accessibility of loans as major challenges, calling for stronger government intervention through grants and regulatory guidelines.