NEXIM bank to establish export academy – MD
NEXIM bank to establish export academy – MD
The Nigerian Export – Import Bank (NEXIM Bank) says it is currently finalising plans to launch an Export Academy.
This it said was to build capacity and enhance skills of more exporters toward boosting non- oil revenue of the economy in the country.
The Managing Director of the bank, Mr Abba Bello disclosed this at the launch of Women and Youth Export Facility (WAYEF) in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday.
He said: ” As part of our effort to support mainstream and informal businesses and Small Scale and Medium Enterprises (SSMEs) NEXIM is currently finalising plans to launch an export capacity and enhance skills of more exporters toward boosting the contribution of the non – oil export revenue and contribution to the general economy.
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“It is our belief that the services offered by the academy will compliment the joint project participation, joint product preparation recently established in partnership with African Export – Import Bank (AFNEXIM) as NEXIM and AFNEXIM have agreed to contribute take off of 50 million dollars to supply key investment of the project.”
According to him, NEXIM is a trade policy bank of Nigeria whose mandate is to diversify and externalise trade from Nigeria toward increasing jobs and its creation , among others.
Bello noted that the decision to launch the scheme in the state was informed by the strong enthusiasm shown by youths and women in the state under the auspices of Kebbi Youth Connect Initiative during his interaction with them in April, 2021.
“It is also in recognition of the wide array of exportable products including groundnut, cotton, onion and other products that are available in the state and can be harnessed by women and youths beside Kebbi being a border state with significant tradesmen of Niger and Benin Republics as well as West Africa, can seize the opportunities of NEXIM products on services to grow its border trade, particularly within the contest of African Free Continental Trade Agreement (AFCA).
“The United Nations population projection for Nigeria in 2021 indicates that about 62 per cent of Nigerians are below the age of 25 while 50 per cent belong to the female gender.
“This segment of the population can therefore not be ignored by the interventionist agencies like NEXIM bank and Bank of Agriculture (BOA) hence our decision to establish the women and youths export facility as deliberate and targeted scheme to address the need of these vulnerable groups,” he said.
Bello noted that the women and youths could own their businesses and contribute more to job creation by having access to finance and capacity building initiative rather than being employed.
He emphasised that the bank had intervened significantly in the key non – oil sector, high employer of women and youths.
The director reiterated need to diversify the external sector of the Nigerian economy and grow the non-oil export sector could not be overemphasised.
“Nigeria is currently dealing with the aftermath of the recent episode of COViD- 19 pandemic and the contagion, which has caused severe economic challenges in the country. Such challenges can easily have been avoided with less dependence on crude oil, which is the major reason why the Federal Government has launched the Zero Oil Plan.
“As part of our contribution toward implementing this plan, NEXIM has established the State Export Development Fund, which is targeted at assisting every state of the federation toward promoting at least one exportable commodity that can form part of our national export basket.”
In his remarks, Gov. Atiku Bagudu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Umar Babale-Yauri said: ” The state is blessed with population of women engaging in rice production and it is now a top talk across the nation due to efforts and support of the state government.
“The state government is trying to reciprocate the achievement recorded in the rice production into shea butter, onions and soya beans.”
Bagudu expressed hope that with the partnership with NEXIM, the state would start exportation of soya beans, shea butter and onions, among other agriculture products.
The theme of the programme is “Unlocking Export Market Opportunities for Women and Youths”.
