The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo has declared that as far as his Agency was concerned, Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu is the number one Governor driving the Non-Oil Export conversation of the Nigerian Government.
Mr. Awolowo stated this in Lagos while speaking at the Non-Oil Export Conference organised by the Policy Development Facility Phase II of the United Kingdom Government.
According to Mr. Awolowo, his Agency is saddled with the responsibility of promoting a Nigerian economy that is not dependent on oil revenue and noted that the Abia State Governor was already ahead of the curve in championing policies that align with the vision of the Federal Government for economic diversification.
Mr. Awolowo noted that Governor Ikpeazu brought the ingenuity of the producers in Aba to the limelight with his Made in Aba Campaign even before the Federal Government drove the Made in Nigeria conversation and commended Governor Ikpeazu’s foresight in building an Abia economy that will not be dependent on Oil allocation in the near future.
The DG of NEPC also commended Governor Ikpeazu for setting up the Abia State Marketing and Quality Management Agency which he identified as a key link to ensure that products out of Abia State meet export standards and assured of the continued support of his Agency for the facilitation of the export of Made in Abia products.
The Non-Oil Export Conference had in attendance, Chairmen of National Assembly Committees on Trade and Investment, Heads of Federal Government Trade Facilitation and Export Promotion Agencies, Managing Directors of Banks and other Captains of Industries, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Exporters and other critical stakeholders.
Highlight of the Conference was the inauguration of the Network of Practicing Non-Oil Exporters of Nigeria with the appointment of the Director-General of the Abia State Marketing and Quality Management Agency, Mr. Sam Hart as a Member of the 5-Man Board of Trustees.
