• Organisation to commence exports to Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire in pilot phase
The promotion of Made in Nigeria products and services on the African continent got a major boost on Tuesday, as the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Africa,
(NIDO Africa) disclosed that two African countries: Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal, have been pencilled down as pilot nations to push Nigerian made products.
The Chairman, NIDO Africa Prof Jude Osakwe, who disclosed this at an interactive seminar and exhibition organised by the organisation for micro, small and medium scale (MSMSE) manufacturers interested in the export market said time has come for Nigerians to showcase it’s local products to the world, beginning from the African continent.
Addressing the critical sector at the Banquet Hall, DRembrandt Hotel, Lagos, Osakwe said by going into export promotion, NIDO Africa is shifting focus from it’s constant war against human trafficking involving young girls across the continent, adding that this initiative is aimed at promoting and deepening African Continental free Trade Area (AfCfTA).
Osakwe disclosed that the organisation is happy to be collaborating with the Nigeria’s Export Promotion Council (NEPC), and other government agencies with NIDO Africa creating the inroad into the African market.
He said: “After a series of war against human trafficking, the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, NIDO Africa has moved a step forward, as it sets out to export Nigerian goods to other African countries.
Osakwe said the purpose of the programme is to export Nigerian products to other African countries adding that; “by so doing we are creating a marketing structure side by side an enabling environment for farmers to export their farm produce and manufacturing products to create new routes to other African countries.”
He added that though both Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire are francophone countries, the Nigerian population in both is huge enough to sustain export and from there, it would spread to other parts of the continent.
He added that the organisation had earlier in May, organised an interactive session with the local business community, adding that NIDO Africa and the business community “would from this seminar begin a phase of implementation by exporting to the two pilot countries and that is why we have invited government agencies, officials of the Ministry of foreign Affairs , Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Manufacturers Association Of Nigeria (MAN), Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) amongst others, to help local business men facilitate the process.“
He added that he happy to lead NIDO Africa on this new initiative especially because the charter that created NIDO Africa gave it the power to attract investment within and outside African countries.
One of the participants at the exhibition, Pastor (Mrs) Temitope Emovon, who is the Managing Director of Zoe Foods, said she is participating because of the immense opportunities that lie ahead leveraging on the reach of NIDO Africa.
Mrs Emovon, who started foods packaging business few years ago, said her company would be happy to introduce Sobo Tea, Tapioca Cereal, Garri Ijebu, among others to the African and the global market.
Leading export consultant, Mr Bamidele Oyelebo, said his company, Ficoven Express is proud to be collaborating with NIDO Africa in bridging Nigeria’s talent and products to the African continent.
He lauded NIDO Africa for moving into new realms of its mandate to facilitate trade and investments adding that Nigeria has a huge potential to dominate the Continental market.
Oyelebo with over two decades of experience in export business took all participants through the challenges and opportunities in the export market, adding these products are sought after by the huge population of Nigerians in diaspora, a community which he said is enough to continue to ensure that serious businessmen are kept in business.
