Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to positioning the State’s products for global competitiveness, urging local entrepreneurs to embrace international standards to thrive in the export market.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Oyeniyi Adebayo, at the opening of a two-day Export Accelerator Programme in Ado-Ekiti, the Governor said the initiative would help Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) package their goods to meet global requirements, earn foreign exchange, create jobs and diversify the State’s economy.
Governor Oyebanji stated that his administration had been deliberate in creating policies and partnerships to open new trade corridors for Ekiti businesses.
He stressed that with the right technical support, access to finance, and international exposure, products from the State could compete anywhere in the world.
“Our products and services can be consumed and enjoyed all over the world, but there are requirements that must be met to play on the world stage,” he said. He added that the programme aimed to equip business owners with knowledge and tools to access both national and international markets.
In her welcome address, the State Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, Mrs. Omotayo Adeola, said the training, organised in partnership with the Ekiti State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (EKDIPA), was part of the government’s ‘Ekiti Without Borders vision’.
She explained that the programme responded to the growing demand from entrepreneurs seeking guidance on entering export markets, noting that participants would be trained in export processes such as product packaging, certification, marketing, and value addition.
Mrs. Adeola assured that the Ministry would keep working with relevant agencies to remove barriers preventing small businesses from accessing global trade opportunities.
The Director-General of EKDIPA, Ms. Ololade Olutola, described the programme as a strategic step to boost the marketability of Ekiti businesses worldwide and strengthen the State’s economy.
She said EKDIPA would continue linking local businesses to both domestic and foreign investors, adding that a thriving export sector would not only generate foreign exchange but also drive industrialisation and attract new investments.
Ekiti State Coordinator of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mrs. Emily Otoide, outlined available support services for exporters, including company registration, product identification, participation in international trade fairs, access to grants, and low-interest export loans.
She pledged the Council’s readiness to work closely with exporters to navigate regulatory processes and connect them to viable markets. According to her, the NEPC’s role goes beyond promoting Nigerian products abroad to ensuring they meet the expectations of foreign buyers.
An export promotion consultant and resource person at the event, Mrs. Adaora Onyeke, encouraged participants not to view the export business as overly complex or capital-intensive.
She highlighted the high potential of both agricultural and non-agricultural products in foreign markets, stressing that value addition increases returns in hard currency.
Mrs. Onyeke urged entrepreneurs to move beyond raw material exports, noting that finished and semi-finished products often attract higher prices abroad.
She shared success stories of Nigerian entrepreneurs who started small but became global suppliers through strategic branding and consistent quality.
Dignitaries at the event included the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, Mr. Adedayo Falua; National Executive Member and Chairman, MSME Trade Group, NACCIMA, Chief Kola Akosile; President, EKICCIMA, Alhaji Olufemi Hassan; President, National Association of Small Scale Industrialists, Mr. Afolabi Akosile; and Centre Manager, Technology Incubation Centre, Mr. Tola Fasan, among others.