The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has launched a programme to equip Nigerian students with export and entrepreneurship skills, as part of efforts to expand the country’s non-oil exports and create opportunities for youth employment.
The programme, known as the Students Training Entrepreneurship Export Programme (STEP-X), is designed to bridge knowledge gaps that prevent young entrepreneurs from accessing international markets, particularly in export procedures, documentation, product standards and certification.
Speaking at the launch in Lagos, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEPC, Nonye Ayeni, said the initiative would help students transform their business ideas into export-ready ventures.
“Our goal is to make the journey from hostel room or a campus workshop to the international market shorter, clearer and achievable,” Ayeni said.
She explained that young Nigerians were already developing businesses and products in agriculture, agro-processing, fashion and textiles, technology, creative industries and digital services, but many lacked the knowledge required to explore international markets.
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Ayeni said STEP-X, themed “From Campus to Global Market: Empowering Nigerian Students for Non-oil Export and Global Entrepreneurship,” would be replicated across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
More than 250 students from tertiary institutions in Lagos and Ogun states participated in the maiden edition, which also attracted leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and representatives of various institutions.
The NANS President, Comrade Babatunde Akinteye, described STEP-X as a laudable initiative and expressed the association’s readiness to partner with NEPC to deliver export training and other programmes for students.
Export Hubs
The student body also proposed establishing export hubs in campuses across the six geopolitical zones, supported by NEPC personnel responsible for training and mentoring students. It further requested a national summit on student entrepreneurship and non-oil exports.
Responding, Ayeni assured the association of the Council’s willingness to collaborate, highlighting existing youth-focused initiatives, including the Export Skills Acquisition Centre established in partnership with LeLook Academy to train young Nigerians in garment and bag making.
She disclosed that the centre had trained more than 1,000 youths since its inception and had supported the production of bags exported to international markets.
She also said NEPC organised 728 capacity-building programmes across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in 2025, reaching more than 10,000 beneficiaries.
Ayeni subsequently directed relevant NEPC departments to meet with NANS representatives to work towards organising the proposed national summit.
