Amb. Ayoola Olukanni, director-general, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) on Wednesday urged exporters to utilise Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to boost exports in the country.
Olukanni made the appeal during the Nigerian Export Summit and Awards 2019, held at Victoria Island, Lagos and organised by AFRITEX.
The theme of the event was: “The Digital Era Business on the Move: Export in the Fast Lane’’.
Olukanni said that Nigerians in diaspora had a huge export potential and if technology was well utilised in the sector, it would boost the nation’s chances of working with other countries.
“Nigerians in the sector also need to keep up with global best practices when exporting to other countries.
“It is also necessary to adhere to rules and regulations when exporting to other countries,’’ he said.
Olukanni said that electronic media and e-commerce had also helped many Nigerians to showcase their products to the world.
He also noted that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had taken measures that would increase and diversify exports in Nigeria.
Mr Kolawole Awe, chairman, NACCIMA Export Group, said that exports should be included in the educational curriculum to teach Nigerians how to grow products locally and export best standards in order to succeed.
“We need to build capacity and a lot of knowledge to grow exports. Access is critical to exports and ICT is really helping the industry in that regard but we have not taken full advantage of ICT in Nigeria,’’ Awe said.
The Convener of the event, Mr Oyesola Oworu, Chief Executive Officer, AFRITEX, said that digitalisation was a key enabler for both local and international trade to find new markets and new customers.
He said that to succeed in the export sector in Nigeria, it is necessary to innovate, strengthen and diversify our export base.
Oworu urged exporters to key into ICT to grow their businesses.