A NEW DAY FOR NIGERIAN EXPORT.

I am particularly delighted to offer our platform and be the host of today's

breakfast and to have Mr. Segun Awolowo as our Guest Speaker to speak on
the topic "A New Day For Nigerian Non-oil Export." We have no apology for
this promotional on a worthy national cause.

Over many years, the NBCC which is Nigeria's foremost bi-lateral Chamber,
has agonized over the big huge demand for Nigerian products in the UK
which should be earning us Nigeria a tidy amount of foreign exchange
annually but which has remained , largely or only marginally, unexploited.
Britain houses nearly 3 million Nigerians which makes it a Nigerian nation
outside of Nigeria. The Nigerian population dwelling therein, is bigger than the
population of over a dozen African countries. That population alone, with its
huge buying power and access, is a huge national resource with which,
regrettably, we have done very little. When this is combined with the biglarge
African diaspora in the UK, it, it should be a huge export market for Nigeria
which should be providing jobs on our farms , homes and factories daily. It is
a strong evidence of a poor national strategy and planning that after well over
100 years of association with the UK ,at all levels, our pineapples, pawpaw,
yams, bananas, plantains are hardly to be found in UK's departmental stores
and corners shops thereby depriving ourselves of huge earnings and job
opportunities.

My study has shown that there are several reasons responsible for the huge
failure to tap into this huge opportunity. Let me mention just three, namely -

First, is the get rich quick mentality which the oil boom syndrome has
bestowed on us. Nobody wants to work hard anymore or look long term.
Relationships in international trade takes time, consistent application and
discipline. Commitments must be taken seriously and respected. There are
very few Nigerian businesses which still hold on to such values.
We are not researching into new products or new ways of producing old
products because these require pains taken efforts.

Secondly, is the very poor value chain management which has failed to
provide necessary preservation machinery in the form of effective
transportation, cold rooms, internationally accepted standards- packaging,
labellinglabeling, processing- effective storage at the ports and reception
facilities at the country of destination etc. This value chain is a most desirable
component for any country highly desirous of making an impact in the export
business. It requires investment and serious management. which the get rich
quick mentality has deprived us of.

Thirdly, is the lack of a clear government policy or a careful articulation or
monitoring of policies and incentives to ensure that export practitioners,
particularly, small Nigerian practitioners , are developed by enjoying
consistent support and defencedefenseprotection so that they are not overtly
exposed to the serious dangers of the international trade.

There is no gain saying that Nigeria is naturally a strong country. It has some
of the most entrepreneurial people in the world. Its land is rich and well
watered. It is blessed with a highly diversified vegetation from the oceans to
the mangrove forest, to the tropics, semi savannah, savannah to pure desert.
Its soil and climate support the most diversified of products apart from the
largely undiscovered and unexploited minerals in its soils. It has arts and
crafts, fashion,music, industrial production etc. all these attributes should
normally support a vibrant industry and a whole range of products for the
domestic and international market.

Challenged by the gap between opportunity and actualization, the NBCC in
association with NEPC has over the years sponsored a number of export
missions to the UK. We have been a facilitator. It is to the credit of the NBCC
that a good number of people who are into export in this country today got into
it by participating in NBCC Export Missions. As commendable as this initiative
was, we at the NBCC recognize the fact that our effort relative to the demand,
has been no more than a tiny drop in the Atlantic Ocean. After a careful
articulation of issues, we at NBCC have come to the conclusion that so huge
is the opportunity and so big the demand that a token was no longer enough.
We have seen a need to do something really big to make a difference through
a consistent and sustained effort which will have a tangible effect on the
people and economies of both Nigeria and the UK.

It was never going to be an exercise which the NBCC could do on its own. It
needed to engage with the NEPC in a very vibrant manner on a long term
basis. We needed to be involved in the formulation, and, indeed, in the
implementation of policies which will drive Nigeria's export to the UK and
beyond. If Nigeria must get its export right, the starting point must be the
UK. That opportunity came with the appointment iIn the recent past of Mr
Segun Awolowo, our Guest Speaker of today, a dynamic technocrat with a
good understanding and a sense of history. It will be for him to announce
what, under him, the NEPC and NBCC have structured to take the export
drive of the country forward.

It is sufficient for me to welcome him and to welcome all exporters and
prospective ones who have come to hear him enunciate a new direction for
the Nigerian export trade. It is sufficient for me to add that Nigeria owes it to
itself to roll up its sleeves and work. The export trade is not a low hanging
fruit. It is for the valiant and tough. For too long a time lip allegiance has been
paid to the need to diversify the economy. With the significant progress which
the nation has made in agriculture in the recent past, we need to take value
creation through processing seriously. No country gets rich by exporting
primary goods. The export market offers us a huge opportunity far bigger than
oil. But as Agroa has proved, export is a tough enterprise. Government must
roll out the incentives but monitor them well to prevent abuses. We need to be
fastidious at maintenance of standards and in taking our contractual
obligations seriously. The export market can be very unforgiving. The lack of
jobs in the country is not for lack of opportunities. What we lack are business
people with the vision, staying power and the never say die spirit. Export is
not the place for get rich quick. But those who stay the course will earn big
Comment [JA1]: Sounds a bit preemptive.
and prosper in the endeavour.

The NBCC is an agent for selling the best of Britain to Nigeria and the best of
Nigeria to Britain. We promote the best of the two countries and their
prosperity by leveraging on the investment of so many years in each other
and converting them into business opportunities. Today's breakfast is a
rallying point by the NBCC to a national call. It is our announcement of our
intention to rally to this cause and collaborate with the NEPC in an Export
Nigeria crusade. Happily, we have a fresh mind, a new export evangelist in
Mr. Segun Awolowo. His background assures us that he understands what it
is to have a date with history. He should do well and make this nation proud. It
is my pleasure and privilege to present him to you all. Let us hear him!