AfCFTA: NEF Seeks better packaging of non-oil export commodities PHILIP CLEMENT ABUJA

The Nigeria Entrepreneurs Forum, NEF, says for Nigeria to effectively maximize the economic benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, AfCFTA adequate measures must be put in place for quality packaging of the nation’s non-oil commodities for export.

The President of NEF, Dr Sidney Inegbedion stated this in Abuja during the Leadership Training On Good Corporate Governance, Market Access and Value Chain Development organized by NEF for Heads of Agricultural Commodity Association of Nigeria.

Dr Sidney Inegbedion said Nigeria is blessed with abundant agricultural commodities and resources needed to boost her economic growth in the international market if effectively harnessed.

According to him, the training is part of NEF strategies of enhancing the leadership of small holder farmers through productive corporate governance and value chain development.

He stated that the country also needs to strengthen her capacity for processing for export purposes to African countries and other global community that require Nigeria’s agricultural commodities.

“We realized that most of the members of these Associations are in the hinterlands without little or no education but they are the people that produce what we eat and can be package for export hence the need for sound leadership in line with the economic agenda of the present administration which tend to focus on agriculture”, he stressed.

The President of NEF explained that the Forum would continue to embark on programmes that would contribute to national economic development.

Dr. Sidney Inegbedion therefore advised Government at all levels to ensure infrastructural development of the country to enable producers of agricultural produce transport their products from rural areas to the city.

He equally advocate for funding mechanism to enable farmers have access to low interest loan to boost their productivity.

“Government needs to use some of these agricultural commodities Associations to grow the economy in terms of teaching out to the actual people because when Government comes up with laudable programmes the elites sit on these programmes without teaching the actual beneficiaries”, Dr Sidney complained.