NEPC trains 200 Otukpo youths in e-exporting, trade and ICT December 2nd, 2021

 

The Nigeria Export Promotion Council, NEPC, has commenced the training of 200 Otukpo and Benue youths in ICT skills and digital innovations for e-exporting and trade.

Addressing the participants, the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of NEPC, Dr. Ezra Yakusak, said training being done in collaboration with Aphri media with the theme; Digital and Export Capacity Building Skills Workshop for Youths, would expose the participants to the immense benefits inherent in e-commerce.

Represented by the Trade Advisor/Head NEPC, Makurdi, Mr. Ben Anani, the Executive Director explained that the periodic training which commenced in Makurdi and Otukpo would “leverage on the abundant talent and skills of the youths, developing them to be contributing to the development of the economy.”

 

Dr. Yakusak said: “according to the World Trade Organization, WTO, digital innovations are transforming the global economy. The rapid growth of new products and markets and emergence of new players ushered in by the digital technologies have the promise of boosting global trade flows including exports from developing countries.

“Increasing use of e-commerce which literally means the art of selling and buying via internet offers great opportunity for youths to use their ICT knowledge and trade profitably. E-commerce is virtually an essential approach for both large and small businesses now that almost all products and services are online.

“Having a strong e-commerce presence can increase efficiency and productivity, while lowering cost. Indeed, if you haven’t already moved at least some of your business operations to an online model, you could face major threats from your competitors who are already doing so in comparison to traditional export.”

Declaring the training open, the Benue state Commissioner of Youths and Sports Development, Mrs. Tabitha Igirgi noted that the programme was a step in the right direction “in complimenting the efforts of the State in training young people to become self-reliant and employers of labour, thereby taking the youths off the streets.”

Represented by the Director, Youth Development, Mr. Micheal Omanga, the Commissioner said the efforts of NEPC would not be taken for granted “because according to a saying you build the youths you build the Nation’ and since the youths are leaders of today and tomorrow, no responsible government will take the risk of ignoring them. That is why the training is apt.”

Youths drawn from all sectors in the Local Government attended the workshop while presentation were made in areas such as exporting tools for small businesses, export success story and selling without borders.