… Targets two key challenges: access to finance and link to markets
A scheme has been launched to push up non-oil export by air from Port Harcourt international airport close to the levels of the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos.
This scheme launched by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) expects to train exporters in the South-South region in new methods of boosting export trade and the areas that would easily go by air.
The NEPC has thus mounted a 90-day training scheme aimed to producing a new army of competent exporters with deep understanding of easy commodities, documentation, certification, sourcing, etc.
The details were contained in a presentation made by Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer (ED/CEO) of NEPC, through Benedict Itegbe, the south-south regional director of the Council at Somitel Hotel in Trans-Amadi, Port Harcourt, Wednesday, August 6, 2025. It was at a special unveiling event in partnership with Fidelity Bank (for finance pipeline) and ImpactHer, a non-governmental organization that specializes in helping women entrepreneurs find capacity and funding.
Speaking, Itegbe, an architect, said that the MM2 has emerged as the 4th largest export port or centre after the two Lagos sea ports and Onne Port in Port Harcourt, accounting for over $5m worth of export per month.
He mentioned the export items leaving Nigeria through the MM2 daily, and said NEPC was keen on replicating this at the PH International Airport.
He showed the exporters the various items they can work on for export from the airport in the zone, and develop them for bulk export by sea later.
Part of the efforts to boost export in Port Harcourt is the creating of a state export promotion in Rivers State to be chaired by Commissioner of Commerce. He did not say how suspension of commissioners due to the state of emergency may have affected the step, or if the permanent secretary has effectively stepped into the shoes.
He rather said the committee would need to keep meeting to tackle any problem reported by budding exporters especially on regulations and certifications.
He also revealed the setting up of an export finance help desk by NEPC to provide information and links to exporters facing challenges in finance. He also talked about solutions to market access.
NEPC gave tips on how to gain access to market, advising exporters to pay close attention to value-addition because those would be the easy ones to gain approval for export; the next is to begin to ship by air before bulk export that would need sea-routes; and to adopt the ‘Lagos Template’.
It was disclosed that the Nigeria Diaspora have formed a big offtake market for Nigerian exporters who can export anything including vegetables, moimoi, ginger, cocoa, kernel shell, crushed kernel, etc.
He said the 90 days training would teach and hand tools of export to the trainees so they ca fly.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, Itegbe said the event at Somitel Hotel was to bring strategic stakeholders together to create a breakout on policy support to exporters.
He also said it was to unveil the platform for partnership with Fidelity Bank because the bank’s bias for women in small businesses (SMEs). He made it clear that in all of these, finance and export readiness were important steps. He said the scheme is for all Niger Delta region, saying NEPC is at the cutting edge of the export matter because of huge global experience at their disposal and their constant interaction with the International Trade Centre (ITC).
Itegbe harped on the need to embrace digital system and artificial intelligence (AI), saying those that may lag behind may drop out.
In his goodwill message, Emmanuel Nwalor from Fidelity Bank made it clear there was need for all hands in Nigeria to be on deck for export, saying export is a key sector for Nigeria’s growth and survival. He said Fidelity was ready in this fight.
Speaking, Clementina Uzogor, Director, ImpactHer, representing Efe Ukala, president/founder of ImpactHer, appealed to participants to take the training very seriously because it was meant to be impactful and that it is the way to shape Nigeria’s future in international trade.
She said exporters must be equipped to fight in the international trade arena, and that the group has trained over 200,000 women entrepreneurs in Africa, most of them in export business. She said the hope for Africa is in unleashing SMEs and women entrepreneurs.
She added that the South-South is the new focus and that appropriate financing mechanism was key. She urged the participants not to underestimate the power of gradual buildup, and assured them that the world was waiting for their creativity.
Many other presentations were made at the one-day seminar ‘Fidelity SME/Gender focus programme’, ImpactHer women focused programme, and SCEP Finance Desk. A discussion panel was part of the day to review many issues and find solution right there.
