… How export skill can reduce japa syndrome – IEOM boss
Students in universities in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and beyond are being shown how to use same skills used in defrauding foreigners (yahoo-yahoo) to make legitimate income bigger than whatever yahoo business can fetch for the get-rich-quick generation.
This is as export trade is ready to bring down the japa syndrome because young persons and students can easily become international personalities through export business.
The new scheme is export academy which has many roles to play in the export value chain such that those that cannot cope with handling products can use yahoo-like skills to hunt for buyers around the world for a physical exporter in Nigeria.
This scheme was unveiled at the Amphi-theatre in the Rivers State University (RSU), formerly University of Science and Technology (UST) where Ofon Udofia, executive secretary of the Institute of Export Operations & Management (IEOM) unveiled the package.
Speaking at the unveiling, Udofia showed the students how to do business without capital, using your head (brains) as capital. He said young people must use the opportunity of a university to equip themselves for life ahead but regretted that many youths want to go into politics but they may not know that most politicians do not have confidence in themselves.
He said: “When you leave school, you are on your own. Life after school will turn out to be anything.”
He said one of the best ways to be make money while still in school is to join the export youth army instead of joining yahoo army. “Use your smart intelligence to make cool money where the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will not need to hunt for you. There are many people living fake lives. Most of those who claim to be into oil/gas have not seen crude oil let alone gas before. Do not be like such people.”
He urged young persons to try their hands in the new window in export line either in products or services in the value chain. “You can use the skill you have in doing yahoo to be a finder. You search out buyers and link them to an exporter and get your commission. You can export without money. Choose a place the export value chain.”
He pointed to examples such as buying and storing and aggregating. He also revealed why Ghana garri fares better in the export market, saying its all about moisture content (found more in Nigerian stuff).
No need to japa:
On mass exodus by Nigerian youths, Udofia said there would be no need for that with the advent of a better offer such as export academy.
He said: “There would be no need to japa when you can learn export skills and you will travel to any country you like.”
He said the best way for the FG to achieve its aim in export is to introduce Export Studies in universities. This way, Entrepreneurship Centres in universities would not need to beg for funds but would rather make money.
Udofia said he has seen export education coming to Nigerian universities. He said this is the only way to make Nigeria an exporting country. “If you are not export-ready, your money will vanish. So, study export trade, and take action, now.
He urged the students to embrace transparency so their products could be traced and be verifiable. “These are hallmarks of export trade. If companies enter Nigeria to do export, you are the ones they will employ and train further.
“Join, train, get certificate. There are exportable products in every community. Go back to yours and look well. We will guide you to look better. We are creating a community of exporters in Nigeria.”
Exporting will make you a global citizen – Mercy Odibe
In her presentation, Mercy Chinanu Odibe, director of training at the IEOM, assured the students that venturing into export trade would easily make them global citizens.
She said they scheme was to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical industry exposure. “It is our hope that this programme will serve as a springboard, awakening a new generation of young Nigerians to the vast opportunities that lie in international trade and export development.
“At IEOM, our mission has always been clear: to equip individuals and institutions with the skills, tools, and exposure they need to compete and thrive in the global marketplace. In a country like Nigeria—blessed with resources, talent, and resilience—the export sector holds enormous promise. But that promise will only be fulfilled if young people like you are prepared to seize it.
“The SEDP was developed with this in mind. It is a capacity-building initiative targeted at students in tertiary institutions, designed to nurture export-ready minds, foster innovation, and demystify the export business. This program introduces you to the building blocks of global trade—product development, standards, logistics, documentation, and digital tools—while encouraging you to think like entrepreneurs and solution-providers.”
Odibe said: “To the students present here, this programme is for you. I urge you to absorb everything, ask questions, make connections, and begin to imagine yourself—not just as a graduate; but as a global citizen with something valuable to offer the world.”
University endorses export scheme:
Joy Eke-Ejiofor, professor and director, Entrepreneurship Debt Centre, Rivers State University (RSU), endorsed the scheme, saying when it was first introduced in 2024, many students recorded success by registering export firms and got support.
She said: “This is packaged for your interest. This is the second year of this programme. The one for last year led to success stories as some of you opened registered businesses and got support. More will come. The essence is for students to begin to make money even while at school. Export is the new way to make income.”
PH City chamber involved:
Speaking through a message sent to the event, Chinyere Nwoga, President, Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), said the city chamber fully endorsed the scheme adding that the executive director of IEOM is the head of export/import trade group in PHCCIMA.
She said the PHICCIMA has been in serious advocacy for youth empowerment. “Recently, PHCCIMA praised the Rivers State government’s allocation of N31 billion to agriculture, training and business support programmes for youths in the 2025 budget, highlighting strategies for genuine empowerment. We have also continued to advocate for the creation of a credible youth and women database to ensure effective disbursement and monitoring of these funds, which can directly benefit young people by providing access to resources and opportunities.”
PH centre can now store grains scientifically – Institute:
Speaking, Mandu Inana, PH zonal head of the Nigerian Stored Product Research Institute (NSPRI) showed the partnership it has with the IEOM as well as the RSU.
She went on: “Our Institute has developed many technologies that can significantly impact positively on your agricultural endeavors and open lucrative business opportunities for you
“Some of our innovations includes Parabolic Shaped Solar Dryer (PSSD) and Improved Inert Atmosphere Silos (IIAS), which have been successfully deployed across Nigeria, directly benefiting over 20,000 individuals and 1,500 households. These technologies have demonstrated the potential to reduce postharvest losses by up to 50%, dramatically increasing processing capacity and farmer incomes.
“Also, our NSPRI Hermetic Steel Drums provide airtight, non-chemical preservation of dried crops, including grains, pulses, roots, tubers, fruits, vegetables, fisheries, and livestock products.
“These drums can safely store agricultural produce for extended periods, ensuring quality maintenance and reducing spoilage losses. For our fishing communities, we have developed the NSPRI Iced-Fish Box, which preserves fresh fish for up to 48 hours, and our Fish-Smoking Kilns that ensure high-quality, uniformly dried fish products. Additionally, our Multicrop and Hybrid Dryers and various value-addition equipment enable entrepreneurs to process agricultural products into marketable forms, creating multiple revenue streams from single commodities. Students and young entrepreneurs like you can use these technologies to establish profitable agribusiness ventures.”
On his own, Chimbuo Victor C, managing director, Ambi-Dex Engineering Construction Limited, said the students are the future great men and women; the future billionaires. “You are the most fortunate generation with highest opportunities.
“The training on entrepreneurship may look like a joke but it is not. Beyond the four walls of a university, life is different. Inside, you act in group, outside, you act alone. Many leave the university empty and regret it later. Whatever opportunity you find in the university, grab it firmly.
“Think of how to survive if left alone by your parents or guardians. Ask yourself what you want to do in life and who you want to be in life.”
Some of the students that participated said the day was a well spent one. Dornu Barine Felix said students now understand why everything must be done to boost export trade. “The insight I’ve gotten just like I’m from Ogoni, and one of the organisers pointed out that there are many natural resources that we can take note of and exploit to help us financially.”
Another student, Deborah Martin Uchechukwu, said: “I actually love the export programme because it gives financial strength to students who can’t cater for themselves. When I saw this, I said I was going to going to attend, and I’ve learnt that I could make money even while being a student. I’m going to put what I’ve learnt here today into practice.”
