The Oyo State Government has intensified efforts to position farmers, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and exporters in the State to take advantage of opportunities in the non-oil export sector.
The Commissioner for Investment, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry, Professor Salihu Abdulwaheed Adelabu, stated this at a one-day workshop and sensitisation programme for farmers, MSMEs and exporters on non-oil exportable products in Oyo State.
The programme, organised by the Ministry in collaboration with the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Oyo Smart Office, Ibadan, was held at the Conference Room of the Ministry, Secretariat, Ibadan.
Professor Adelabu, while welcoming participants, said the programme was coming at a crucial time when Nigeria was increasingly looking beyond crude oil for foreign exchange earnings and economic growth.
He said Oyo State was strategically positioned to contribute significantly to the diversification of the nation’s economy, given its agricultural resources, vibrant trading community, growing MSME sector and opportunities in agro-processing and other non-oil export activities.
The Commissioner, however, stressed that having products alone was not sufficient, noting that businesses seeking to enter the international market must understand quality standards, certification, packaging, labelling, export procedures, documentation, logistics, pricing and market requirements.
He said the State Government remained committed to creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, expand and participate meaningfully in domestic, regional and international trade.
According to him, the administration of the Executive Governor of Oyo State would continue to explore opportunities provided by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and other international trade initiatives to improve market access for businesses in the State.
Professor Adelabu urged farmers and MSMEs to move beyond producing for the local market and position themselves as suppliers to markets across Africa and beyond.
He emphasised the need to move from production to value addition, value addition to standardisation, and standardisation to export competitiveness, while encouraging participants to share their challenges and make the best use of the knowledge provided during the workshop.
He assured that the Ministry would continue to collaborate with NEPC and other relevant institutions to facilitate trade, promote entrepreneurship, support MSMEs and encourage export-oriented production in Oyo State.
In his remarks, the State Coordinator and Deputy Director, Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Oyo Smart Office, Ibadan, Mr Ralph Ogbenyi, who was represented by Mr Opaleye Oluwatosin, said NEPC remained committed to supporting businesses to understand and take advantage of opportunities in the non-oil export sector.
He encouraged participants to improve the quality, packaging, certification and documentation of their products in order to meet the requirements of international markets.
Mr Richmond Ogigai, Chief Executive Officer, Wallx Africa Limited, focused on digital transformation and urged business owners to maximise the potential of their smartphones and establish a strong digital presence through WhatsApp, Google Maps, social media and websites.
The facilitator identified digital visibility, purposeful content, digitised business operations and proper transaction records as essential pillars for building credible and scalable businesses.
Business owners were also advised to separate their personal and business accounts and maintain proper records, as transaction data could strengthen their business credibility and improve their chances of accessing finance.
Wallx Africa announced plans to provide 30 annual subscriptions to businesses that demonstrate readiness to embrace digital transformation. It also disclosed plans to connect credible businesses with financial institutions and develop a financing initiative in collaboration with the Ministry. Seventy per cent of the subscriptions are to be allocated to women entrepreneurs and 30 per cent to men.
Mr Imhanbor Martins and Mr Kayode Olugbemide, representatives of Fountana-Mart Associates Nigeria Limited, sensitised participants on the proposed Oyo State-Ghana Trade Summit, designed to expose businesses in the State to cross-border trade, digital commerce, product exhibition, business matching and networking opportunities in Ghana and the wider West African market.
The proposed initiative is expected to provide participants with practical knowledge of digital branding, e-commerce, cross-border payments, logistics, Ghana’s trade environment and investment opportunities, while creating avenues to connect with potential buyers, distributors and business partners.
The programme also highlighted the importance of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) in facilitating eligible products moving across West African markets and encouraged prospective exporters to understand the relevant certification and documentation requirements.
Messrs. Otunba Kunle Adeyemo Farms delivered a practical session on viable agricultural products with export potential, including cocoa, cashew and coffee.
The facilitator also demonstrated farming practices, including irrigation methods and their benefits for improved agricultural productivity, while participants were introduced to selected cashew varieties, including Brazilian Jumbo and Ogbomoso varieties. Vegetable seedlings were also brought for practical demonstration.
A major highlight of the workshop was the hands-on training by Mrs Temitope Debbie, CEO, Emmatee’s Global Limited, who demonstrated a practical session on cosmetics production, and Miss Bolanle Adeusi, CEO, ABS Sparkle Limited, on toiletries production, which exposed participants to practical approaches to developing locally sourced products for wider markets.
The workshop provided participants with practical knowledge on value addition, digital transformation, agricultural production and export opportunities, reinforcing the State Government’s commitment to strengthening MSMEs, creating jobs and positioning Oyo State businesses for greater participation in regional and international trade.
