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By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
The plans by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to open it’s Smart City office in Bayelsa State has reached an advanced stage, and when operational Bayelsans stand to gain tremendously from the huge latent benefits derivable from been engaged in the culture of non-oil export promotion venture.
The South-South regional co-ordinator of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Joe Itta, stated this while speaking to journalists on the side-lines of a week-long Bayelsa Economic and Investment Summit, themed ‘Building towards a Shared Prosperity,’ recently held in Yenagoa, that attracted participants from within and outside Nigeria.
According to Mr Itta, in order to expand the mandate of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, regional offices were established in the six geo-political zones of the country and idea behind the establishment of the Smart City office in Yenagoa is to extend the council’s services to the grassroots, being distanced, for the people “to be involved in the culture of non-oil export business, which has the potentials of wealth creation, job generation, better living standards, production of quality and quantity thereby leading to certification of product.
“Bayelsa is distanced and to domicile an office in Yenagoa will fill the gaps of involving the grassroots, that hitherto were denied the opportunities and this will further boost the mandate of the six regional offices.
“Bayelsans are bound to benefit tremendously, in increased internally-generated revenue, improved quantity and quality of product leading to certification, a whole lot attributes of non-oil export breakthrough. In fact the advantages of the Smart City office to Bayelsans are so huge”
On how Bayelsans will get the awareness and modus-operandi of the non-oil export business, he said the media is paramount and the agency will not relent in creating awareness through dissemination of its activities. “Media is not restrictive. Three weeks ago about 300 Bayelsa youths were talked to on the importance of non-oil export business; and when we come on board, we will embark on massive enlightenment.”
He disclosed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Yenagoa Chambers of Commerce and other organized private sector are “already yearning for our presence and would help in sensitization of the presence of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.”
