The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has commended the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) for its efforts to expand Nigeria’s non-oil export sector and empower young Nigerians, while seeking a formal partnership to train students in export development.
The Secretary-General of NANS and leader of the delegation, Comrade Oladimeji Uthman Fodio, made the call during a courtesy visit to the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of NEPC, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, at the Council’s corporate headquarters in Abuja.
Fodio praised Ayeni for what he described as exemplary leadership and commitment to youth development, noting that Nigerian youths, who constitute more than 60 per cent of the country’s population, could play a major role in expanding the nation’s export base.
He said NANS was seeking collaboration with NEPC to expose students to opportunities across the export value chain and equip them with practical skills to become exporters and entrepreneurs after graduation.
Among the proposals presented by the students was the training of Nigerian undergraduates in the export of products and services, with emphasis on developing the skills required to access international markets.
The association also proposed the establishment of export hubs in tertiary institutions across the six geopolitical zones, with NEPC personnel providing training, mentorship and technical guidance to students.
NANS further proposed a national summit, tagged “Students Export and Entrepreneurship Initiative – From Campus to Global Market,” with the theme, “Empowering Students for Non-Oil Export and Global Entrepreneurship.”
According to the association, the initiative would focus on six key areas: training, identification, development, connection, exposure and skills.
Responding, Ayeni described Nigerian youths as vibrant, passionate and entrepreneurial, stressing that they remained one of the country’s greatest strengths and a critical component of the non-oil export ecosystem.
She assured NANS of NEPC’s readiness to explore partnership opportunities that would promote youth participation in export development.
The NEPC boss highlighted some of the Council’s existing youth-focused initiatives, including the establishment of a dedicated unit for women, youth and persons living with disabilities.
She also cited the Council’s Export Skills Acquisition Centre, established in partnership with LeLook Academy, which provides training for young Nigerians in areas including garment and bag making.
Ayeni disclosed that the centre had trained more than 1,000 youths since its establishment, with some of the high-quality products produced by beneficiaries exported to international markets.
She further revealed that NEPC organised 728 capacity-building programmes across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory in 2025, benefiting more than 10,000 people.
The visit culminated in the decoration of Ayeni as the National Ambassador of the National Association of Nigerian Students.
On the proposed national summit, Ayeni directed the Directors of State Offices Coordinating, Export Incentives and Development, and Trade Information departments to engage with NANS and work out modalities for organising the programme.
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