From Abba Kabara,
The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has organized a one day sensitization “clinic” to encourage women entrepreneurship on value addition on existing products in Zamfara state.
The workshop tagged “Stimulating Sustainable Export Development through Women Inclusion”, is aimed at sensitizing and motivating sustainable participation of women in profitable entrepreneurship venture.
In a keynote address to flag up the event, on Friday, the North West Regional Coordinator of the council, Alhaji Hassan Bala said the programme would also address supply based constraints and articulate projects to provide quality infrastructure for export production.
He said the Nation’s over dependence on primary commodities as source of export has over the years, generated multiple setbacks to many revenue generating commodities as well as the nation’s productive capacity at the international market.
“Our heavy dependence on primary commodity as a source of export earnings and our inability to diversify export base has made the country’s products uncompetitive in the international markets”, he observes.
Hassan further observes that Nigeria has not been able to foster export on other commodities, as according to him, “we have neglected production and manufacture of products whose profits would have been much higher if encouraged and well harnessed, “.
He said, selected and registered women groups from the state would serve as motivator to opportunities in products value chain, stressing that “women Cooperative Societies encourage processes for improving productivity, performance and improved value for goods and services, “he said.
He informed the participants that value addition to local products and production also increased foreign exchange earnings and profits while the exportable products would be more attractive and appealing.
He said, some of the incentives included articulation of ‘Zero Oil Plan’ which mobilizes public and private resources in replacing oil as number one foreign exchange earner.
The workshop was attended by many women groups from across the state were in attendance.
