The Nigerian Export Promotion Council has advocated for empowerment of micro, small and medium enterprises in the country to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
The Regional Coordinator, South-West, NEPC, Samuel Oyeyipo, made the call at a workshop organised for MSMEs by the council’s legal unit in Lagos, in collaboration with the Export Expansion Facility Programme.
The workshop was focused on the role of AfCFTA in the growth and development of intra-African trade, laws and treaties.
Oyeyipo described the MSME sector as the largest in the economy in terms of trade, distribution and, to some extent, production.
He said, “There is a need to let them know what it takes to participate in the AfCFTA.”
He said, “So, we organised this workshop so they can know what they need to do in terms of product quality, packaging and certification.
“We have MSMEs in other African countries; so, we cannot be left behind, and we have to equip our MSMEs with the knowledge required for them to also upgrade their businesses and skills to be able to participate in the AfCFTA.”
