ITC trains NEPC staff on international trade promotion

The Institute of Export and International Trade (IoE &IT), in collaboration with the International Trade Centre and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, has trained 26 of the Council’s staff on international trade promotion.

The 26 staff have now graduated with a diploma in international trade.

Executive Director/CEO of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Olusegun Awolowo in his address at the graduation ceremony in Abuja on Thursday stated that building capacity for NEPC staff is paramount which is why the Council partnered with the International Trade Council.

He said it was relevant to boost the capacity of staff because one of the key recommendations of the ITC benchmarking assessments excise shows the need “For NEPC to significantly improve its staff professionality to deliver in tandem with its mandate.”

He said “The NEPC accepted the recommendation to strategize, communicate, modernize and measure its activities which were fundamental with the unique opportunity to leverage on the Diploma programme offered by NEPC partners, the ITC and the Institute of Export and International Trade.

According to Mr Awolowo, “Students under the programme have learnt extensively the evolving conditions impacting on trade and its operators. From the World Trade Organization and its various roles in facilitating non-oil exports to Dispute Settlement System (DSS), Most Favoured Nation, Preferential status to trade facilitation focusing on the rule of origin, harmonized system codes among others.

He said a total of 26 students graduated from the programme adding that the first batch is to receive their certificate on the graduation day while the second batch of 18 students will receive their certificate by December 2021.

He charged graduands to bring their wealth of professionalism in boosting Nigeria’s export strides.

The training was funded on a tripartite basis from the Institute of Export and International Trade, the International Trade Centre and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.

In her remarks, the Deputy Executive Director, International Trade Centre (ITC), Dorothy Tembo, said gladdening that positive steps are taken towards the attainment of trade and development goals.

“From an ITC perspective, you will form an important world stage and I urge participants to use knowledge and skills to build excellence especially in boosting This is the beginning of your journey as the program is in full swing in two African countries namely Nigeria and Ghana,” she said.