NANS Proposes Export Trade Initiative for Students

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) proposed a nationwide initiative to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) during a courtesy visit to its Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni. The initiative aims to equip students with practical knowledge in export trade and entrepreneurship, including establishing export hubs across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

This proposal seeks to address the high unemployment rate among young Nigerians, with 14.4 percent of individuals aged 15 to 24 not engaged in employment, education, or training as of the first quarter of 2024. The initiative is designed to encourage students to create businesses that can serve international markets, thereby transforming local products into globally competitive offerings.

In 2025, Nigeria recorded its highest-ever non-oil export earnings of approximately $6.1 billion, indicating a growing market for Nigerian products, which reached 120 countries and included 281 export commodities.