More than 250 small and medium-sized enterprises and producers in the Niger Delta have received training on proper packaging, branding and regulatory compliance to boost the export potential of Nigerian products.
The two-day workshop was organised by the Institute of Export Operations and Management, IEOM, in partnership with stakeholders across the agricultural value chain.
The Executive Secretary of IEOM, Dr Ofon Udofia, said the training was designed to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, the rejection of Nigerian products at international entry points by ensuring they meet required packaging and regulatory standards.
The programme was organised in collaboration with the TAGDev 2.0 Programme of the University of Port Harcourt, with support from the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture, RUFORUM, and the Mastercard Foundation.
Programme Coordinator of TAGDev 2.0, Professor Ibisime Etela, said the initiative is focused on strengthening African agricultural universities to contribute meaningfully to the continent’s economic development.
Representatives of regulatory agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, also educated participants on relevant standards and regulatory requirements.
Experts in agriculture and product development further shared practical knowledge on improving the quality, packaging and marketability of locally produced goods for both domestic and international markets.
