News

NEPC trains newly registered exporters on rudiments of export business in Imo

Published

10 months ago

July 27, 2023

NEPC trains newly registered exporters on rudiments of export business in Imo

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) on Wednesday trained newly registered exporters in Imo on rudiments of export business.

The Executive Director of the NEPC, Dr Ezra Yakusak, who spoke at a workshop for newly registered exporters in Owerri said the clinic was aimed at equipping the new registrants with requisite knowledge of export.

He spoke on the theme: “Understanding the Rudiments of Non Oil Exports Business for Increased Participation at the Global Market”.

Yakusak, represented by NEPC’s Coordinator in Imo, Mr Anthony Ajuruchi, said the council was readily available to provide necessary guide for exporters in marketing their products and accessing interventions from financial institutions.

“There are incentives in the form of free mentorship for requisite knowledge of the export market and access to incentives from banks and other financial institutions.

“As registered exporters , you must acquaint yourselves with the physical, psychic, monetary and cultural standards.

“In the light of present economic conditions, we must think away from oil and redouble our efforts to grow our economy, make it reliable and restate our presence in the global market,” he said.

A resource person, Mrs Olivia Ukaegbu, said the training was in line with NEPC’s vision to make the world a market place for Nigeria’s non oil products through diversification of the productive base of the country’s economy away from oil.

Another resource person, Mrs Mercy Edili said the NEPC provides market entry assistance, organizes outgoing trade missions and capacity building of exporters as well as conducts market research and provides advice on methods of accessing international markets.

Mr Bishop Chukwu of Zenith Bank, said the bank provided incentives for duly registered exporters who meet the bank’s terms and conditions.

An exporter , Mr Chris Nnanna, the Chief Executive Officer of Chrinna International, a fish processing and exporting company, thanked the NEPC for the training and pledged to utilise the gains.

Also, Queeneth Akubueze, a student foodstuffs exporter, thanked the organizers for the wealth of knowledge made available at the workshop and promised to redouble her efforts in in the export business.

Headline

Prince Harry visits sick Nigerian soldiers in Kaduna

Published

5 days ago

May 11, 2024

Alero Danjuma

Prince Harry and his team visited the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna to interact with wounded soldiers who are receiving treatment.

The Duke of Sussex is in Nigeria with his wife to champion the Invictus Games, which Harry founded to aid the rehabilitation of wounded and sick servicemembers and veterans.

Nigeria joined the Invictus Community of Nations in 2022 becoming the first African country to join.

Prince Harry’s visit to Kaduna came 68 years after his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II visited the state during the time of the late Premier of Northern Region Sir Ahmadu Bello.

News

Senate approves death penalty for drug traffickers

Published

1 week ago

May 9, 2024

Alero Danjuma

Senate on Thursday, May 9, approved the death penalty for those convicted on the charge of drug trafficking in the country.

The punishment prescribed in the extant NDLEA Act is a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The resolution of the Senate followed its consideration of a report of the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters and Drugs and Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

The Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters presented the report during plenary, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno North).

The bill, which passed its third reading, aims to update the list of dangerous drugs, strengthen the operations of the NDLEA, review penalties, and empower the establishment of laboratories.

Section 11 of the current act prescribes that “any person who, without lawful authority; imports, manufactures, produces, processes, plants or grows the drugs popularly known as cocaine, LSD, heroin or any other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for life” was amended to reflect a stiffer penalty of death.

Although the report did not recommend a death penalty for the offence, during consideration, Senator Ali Ndume moved that the life sentence should be upgraded to the death penalty.

During a clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, put the amendment on the death penalty to a voice vote and ruled that the “ayes” had it.

But Senator Adams Oshiomhole objected to the ruling, saying that the “nays” had it.

He argued that matters of life and death should not be treated hurriedly, but Barau said it was too late, as he failed to call for division immediately after his ruling.

The bill was subsequently read for the third time and passed by the Senate.