The Institute of Export & International Trade has trained a new generation of export promoters in Nigeria through a new and bespoke educational programme.
In collaboration with the UN and WTO-backed trade agency, the International Trade Centre (ITC), as well as the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), the IOE&IT has delivered training to 26 Nigerian trade promotion staff.
Eight learners have already graduated and were awarded with Level 4 Diplomas at a graduation ceremony in Abuja last week. The remainder are continuing their studies and will graduate before the end of the year.
‘Build excellence’
Speaking at last week’s ceremony, ITC’s deputy executive director Dorothy Tembo said the programme reflected positive steps in Nigeria reaching its trade and development goals.
She also highlighted that a similar programme has been set up by the IOE&IT in collaboration with ITC in Ghana.
She urged participants in both countries to “use knowledge and skills” gained on the programmes to “build excellence” in their respective export sectors.
Success
Kevin Shakespeare, director of the IOE&IT Academy, said he was “proud to be associated with this success and the relationship with the ITC and NEPC”.
“This learning is essential to the future of African trade and the Institute is committed to supporting the success of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA),” he said.
IOE&IT in Africa
The IOE&IT has been undertaking several projects to raise awareness across the continent of the opportunities created by AfCFTA.
The groundbreaking AfCFTA pact has been signed by 54 the African Union’s 55 countries and is aimed at stimulating intra-Africa trade.
The IOE&IT also runs a diploma programme in Ghana and in the summer signed an MOU with TradeMarks East Africa to create a digital trade corridor in Kenya.
Bespoke training
The Level 4 Diploma in International Trade this cohort of Nigerian students graduated in is equivalent to the first year of a university degree.
Structured around four modules, the course materials are specific to the circumstances Nigerian traders operate within in.
NEPC’s CEO, Olusegun Awolowo, said the graduates “have learnt extensively the evolving conditions impacting on trade and its operators”.
Transformation
On launching the NEPC training programme in August, IOE&IT director general Marco Forgione said the IOE&IT was committed to “supporting the transformation of African trade through the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)”.
“Nigeria is at the very heart of African trade development as the largest economy and the major technological hub on the continent,” he said. “The Institute really values the opportunity to support the development of compliant, effective and efficient international trade in Africa, not just of products and goods, but also services”.