The Nigerian Export
Promotion Council (NEPC) has trained over 2 000 youth in Benue on fruits export to enhance their skills and foreign earnings.
The Controller, NEPC in Benue, Mr Emmanuel Etim, said in Makurdi that the one day workshop was organised in collaboration with the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC).
He explained that the training was aimed at boosting the state’s economy and food security through proper storage.
Fruits targeted for export are pineapple, oranges, mangoes and organic oyster Mushroom.
According to Etim, production protocol for export was the basis for the workshop.
”The programme is initiated to diversify non oil export trade further from the traditional export products in the state such as sesame seeds, Cashew nuts, Groundnuts, Yam, Cassava based products, sheanut/butter,” he said.
He said the workshop also aimed at exposing participants to the enormous wealth accruable from mushroom and pineapple exports.
The workshop will increase the number of products in the export basket of the state and engage especially the youths in productive ventures hence curbing youth restiveness.
”It will further diversify the nation’s export away from oil and the traditional export products,” he said.
The NEPC boss expressed optimism that the forum would go a long way in the economic emancipation of the people, wealth creation; employment generation and enhance export performance in the state.
”Above all the workshop is meant to generate viable cooperative association from the participating youths, farmers’ groups and other stakeholders,” he said.
In his speech, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Mr Lawrence Onoja said engaging youths in the agriculture sector would reduce unemployment drastically.
The commissioner commended the NEPC on efforts made in the state to diversify its economy by expanding and increasing non oil exports.
Onoja urged participants drawn from the 23 local gGovernment areas to grab all opportunities given to enhance wealth creation.