WTO’s $1.2m programme‘ll address Nigeria’s agricultural export challenges – Okonjo-Iweala

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has launched a $1.2 million program to enhance the export standards of Nigeria’s sesame and cowpea products. Announced by WTO Director-General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, during the inauguration of seven trade support programs in Abuja, the initiative is a collaboration between the WTO, World Bank, and International Trade Centre (ITC). It aims to address the frequent rejection of Nigerian products in international markets by supporting international safety and quality certification for these products.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala emphasized Nigeria’s untapped agricultural potential, noting the country’s shift from being a major exporter to a net importer of many goods. The program, launched in collaboration with the Standards Trade Development Facility (STDF) and the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), seeks to rectify trade-related supply issues. Nigeria, as the world’s largest producer of cowpeas and sesame, faces export rejections due to non-compliance with international Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) standards. The project will enhance stakeholders’ understanding of market access requirements, improve agricultural practices, and support food safety measures.
NEPC Executive Director, Nonye Ayeni, highlighted the program’s focus on addressing poor quality, inefficient procedures, and improper packaging that lead to export rejections. The project, expected to last three years, aims to strengthen the cowpea and sesame value chains in Nigeria. It focuses on compliance with pesticide residue levels and reducing microbiological contamination, ultimately improving regulatory and farming practices. The nearly $1 million in funding from STDF will be used to train local food safety advisors, emphasizing the programme’s high impact despite its relatively low expenditure.
Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, praised the initiative, noting its alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to use trade for economic growth and opportunity. She expressed confidence that these programmes would bolster the safety, integrity, and marketability of Nigeria’s goods and services. This initiative not only aims to address immediate export challenges but also seeks to foster long-term sustainable growth and economic empowerment within Nigeria’s agricultural sector. Source- Vanguard

OUR REVIEW
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has launched a $1.2 million programme to enhance the export standards of Nigeria’s sesame and cowpea products. Announced by WTO Director-General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, during the inauguration of seven trade support programmes in Abuja, this initiative, in collaboration with the World Bank and International Trade Centre (ITC), aims to address frequent rejections of Nigerian products in international markets by supporting international safety and quality certification for these goods.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala highlighted Nigeria’s significant but underutilized agricultural potential, noting the country’s transition from a major exporter to a net importer of many products. The programme, in collaboration with the Standards Trade Development Facility (STDF) and the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), seeks to rectify trade-related supply issues. Despite being the world’s largest producer of cowpeas and sesame, Nigeria faces export rejections due to non-compliance with international Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) standards. This project aims to improve stakeholders’ understanding of market access requirements, enhance agricultural practices, and support food safety measures.
NEPC Executive Director, Nonye Ayeni, emphasized the programme’s focus on overcoming issues related to poor quality, inefficient procedures, and improper packaging, which lead to export rejections. The three-year project aims to strengthen Nigeria’s cowpea and sesame value chains, ensuring compliance with pesticide residue levels and reducing microbiological contamination. Nearly $1 million from the STDF will be used to train local food safety advisors, highlighting the project’s high impact despite its relatively low expenditure. Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, praised the initiative for aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to leverage trade for economic growth, expressing confidence that the programmes will enhance the safety, integrity, and marketability of Nigeria’s goods and services.