How Nigerian-American Chamber trained entrepreneurs in agribusiness

The Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) in collaboration with Multimix Export House organised a two-aay Agro-Commodity Export Masterclass, where it empowered entrepreneurs with knowledge of farming.

The workshop, which held on 16th and 17th November, took place at the Multimix Global Learning Centre in Lagos.

“The recent ban of some food items from Europe has been very embarrassing and impacting negatively on the contribution of agro commodities to the national economy. This is a setback for a nation that desperately needs to expand its export basket to boost domestic agricultural activities and create jobs,” NACC says, in a statement.

The workshop focused on export of sesame seeds, ginger, cashew nuts and products, shea nuts/butter and processed vegetable & food products was designed to equip stakeholders, produce merchants, infant exporters, existing exporters, commodity brokers, foreign buyers, investors, financiers and government export facilitating and inspection agencies with the information and knowledge to take good decisions to enhance their profitability.

“From available statistics, only few countries in the world can match Nigeria’s endowment in the area of Natural resources as Nigerian agricultural commodities rank among the best in the world,” NACC adds.

The workshop featured Obiora Madu, known as Mr. Export and seasoned industry practitioners who held participants spellbound for two days, Itemising all the challenges and landmines in the value chain and providing practicable mitigating factors .

According to Madu, the biggest problem with export is that of shipping poor quality produce and this can be taken care of if exporters can spend time to study the commodities they wish to export.

He said agro-commodity export can be very profitable if things are done right in terms of quality and in other areas of risk management and finance.

Though the third session in a row, the workshop was successful just like the two before it.skill-sets for success, he said.

Joyce Akpata, director-general, NACC, said the chamber remains committed to capacity building.

“This workshop was informed by our experiences in commodity trade, fairs, trade missions and export management expos.

“We are constantly building partnerships for expansion into foreign markets. Market knowledge and intelligence are pivotal for success in agro commodity export, thus minimising risks and protecting highly valued assets hence this collaboration,” she said.

ODINAKA ANUDU