Politics
THE Plateau State Government has promised to pay special attention to the non-oil sector as a strategy to boost economy activities in the state.
Mr Musa Sule, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in the state stated this at a two-day Capacity Building Workshop organised by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) for exporters in the state on Tuesday in Jos.
The workshop had the theme “Accessing Niche Market for Increased Non-oil Export”.
Sule, who reiterated government’s commitment to boost the economy of the state through export, advised citizens of the state to embrace the option, insisting that the oil sector was no longer a sustainable toward the growth of the nation’s economy.
The commissioner noted that Plateau was blessed with abundant natural resources to change its economic status and that of its citizens.
“Most Nigerians believe that as far as there is oil, there is no need for other export alternatives; we have made ourselves a mono-economy despite the numerous resources available in our land begging for exploration.
“Plateau is blessed with abundant agricultural and solid minerals such as Tea, Coffee, which is the best in the world, Irish potatoes, precious stones, Zinc, Tin, among other natural resources.
”These natural resources need to be tapped for both domestic use and export by investors,”he said
Sule, who decried the decline in oil revenue, called on residents of the state to explore the opportunities in the non-oil sector for economic growth.
“It is a known fact that we need to diversify our economy and you will all agree that there is a drastic decline in oil revenue.
”This has made it imperative for government to explore other areas through which more revenue can be generated.
“We must therefore join hands together to diligently develop the export sector not only for the purpose of generating revenue but also for creating wealth and employment for the teaming number of young graduates that are churn out every year in the country” he said.
Dr Ezra Yakusak, Executive Director of NEPC, who reiterated the need for export promotion, highlighted some of the advantages of niche marketing to include less competition, brand loyalty and less spending on marketing.
“Today’s event is another effort of the Council to increase the value and volume of export in the state and country at large and you will agree with me that marketing establishes a link between producers and consumers. One of such platforms is niche market.
”The niche segment of a market can be a geographical area, specialty industry, ethnic or religious group, or an age group. They are inexhaustible and evolve as consumers’ tastes and interests continue to change.
“Exporting companies are increasingly required to develop and implement niche strategies in order to deal with harsh export and market conditions, decreasing consumption, recession, depression, among others.
“It is in view of the foregoing that this event is put together to sensitise the Plateau exporters about the potential of accessing niche market; NEPC is ensuring that products from Nigeria meets the requisite international standards in terms of quality and certification” he said.
Mr Samson Idowu, the North-Central Regional Coordinator of NEPC, urged stakeholders in the export business to embrace the tools being given at such workshops to improve on thier businesses
“Our objective is to provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the intricacies of niche markets, whether it’s in agriculture, manufacturing, technology, or any other sector.
“We will explore strategies, insights, and best practices that will empower you to identify, target, and succeed in these specialised market segments” he said.
Speaking on beahlf of the participants, Mrs Grace Joshua of Dizauregi Limited, thanked NEPC for its continuous support, regular trainings, guidance and certifications for stakeholders in the export sector.(NAN)
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-October 10, 2023 @ 17:36 GMT |
Tags: Dr Ezra Yakusak Mr Musa Sule Mr Samson Idowu Mrs Grace Joshua NEPC
