Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Ezra Yakusak, has tasked the exporting communities and Nigerians on the need to embrace export as their only means of survival.
Ezra, who spoke at a media retreat for Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria, (CICAN), Abuja chapter, with the theme, “Diversification of the Economy: The Role of NEPC” said the media has a critical role to play in not just promoting the council’s p activities and programmes but also creating awareness of the opportunities in the non-oil sector and sensitizing the general public.
According to him, “this mandate, as you are aware, is key to realizing the economic objectives of the present administration which is targeted at diversifying the economy from a monolithic to a robost economy driven by the non-oil export sector”.
Again, “the NEPC is poised to build and sustain a mutually-beneficial relationship with the esteemed members of the fourth estate. I have been reliably informed that this relationship between NEPC/CICAN dates back several years ago.
“I am optimistic that through your incisive and analytical reports on happenings in the sector, the Council is more than ever before determined to reposition the sector for better performance. Indeed, the power of the media cannot be over emphasised, Put differently, the press has the power to inform, educate, entertain, act as watchdog for the society as well as sets the agenda for national discourse.
Read Also: Nigeria generates over $3b from non-oil export in 2021 – NEPC
“Therefore, as information and communication professionals, you have a great responsibility to set the agenda for national conversation towards issues that are critical to the well-being of the citizenry.”
And you will agree with me that, what matters most presently is the need to promote the “Export4Survival” campaign – which is a patriotic call for all Nigerians to realize the urgency of engaging in non-oil export trade as a viable means of economic growth, poverty alleviation, industrial development and boosting our foreign exchange earnings”.
Yakusak said there is no doubt that the theme of this retreat complements the Council’s strategic communications which seeks to position the Council as a unique brand that aims to create a set of positive perceptions that not only represents what we stand for, it is also to spearhead the diversification of the Nigerian Economy by expanding and increasing non-oil exports for sustainable and inclusive growth.