NEPC Unveils Programme To Turn Retirees Into Export Entrepreneurs

…Targets Higher Non-Oil Export Earnings Through SOAR Initiative

The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has launched a new initiative aimed at equipping retiring public servants with the skills, mentorship and market access needed to become successful players in Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.

The programme, known as the SOAR Initiative, seeks to transform retirement into an opportunity for entrepreneurship by preparing civil servants due for retirement within the next three to four years to participate across the non-oil export value chain.

Speaking at the inaugural programme on Wednesday in Abuja, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEPC, Nonye Ayeni, said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s economic diversification agenda and the council’s mandate to promote non-oil exports.

According to her, the programme is designed to expose prospective retirees to opportunities in agriculture, fashion, spices and other export-oriented sectors while providing practical support from production to accessing international markets.

“What we are trying to do is, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, to diversify the economy away from oil. We have decided to work with people retiring in the next three to four years and empower them from farm to market access,” Ayeni said.

She noted that many retirees possess decades of experience and valuable skills but often struggle financially after leaving public service due to inadequate preparation for life after retirement.

“We want people to know that retirement is not the end of life. You actually retire to refire. It is an opportunity to move into new spaces and continue contributing meaningfully to national economic development,” she added.

Ayeni explained that the SOAR Initiative would go beyond classroom training by providing continuous mentorship and practical exposure.

She said participants would be guided to identify the segment of the export value chain most suited to their interests and strengths, whether as farmers, processors, aggregators, service providers or exporters.

“There are three modules. This is not just training; it is a school. We will handhold them throughout the process. After this phase, participants will choose the area they want to specialise in, after which we will connect them with successful industry mentors who will work with them for two to three months.

“We will also support them through market information, trade missions, international trade fairs and market access opportunities until they are ready to compete globally,” she said.

The NEPC boss disclosed that about 100 participants were selected for the maiden edition despite receiving significantly more applications from government agencies.

She explained that the council deliberately limited the number of participants to ensure effective learning and closer engagement.

Ayeni also expressed optimism that Nigeria’s non-oil export earnings would surpass last year’s performance despite fluctuations in global commodity prices, particularly cocoa.

She revealed that Nigeria recorded $6.1bn in formal, documented non-oil exports in the previous year but noted that the figure excluded substantial informal cross-border trade.

According to her, the council is collaborating with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to capture exports conducted through border corridors and informal trade routes in the country’s official trade statistics.

“We are expanding the net. A lot of exports move through our borders without being captured in official records. We are working with the NBS and the CBN to document these transactions, and we are making reasonable progress,” she said.

Ayeni added that ongoing efforts to improve market access, including the Federal Government’s air cargo corridor initiative and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), would further boost export volumes, product diversity and destination markets before the end of the year.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Common Services Office in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Danjuma Caleb, commended the NEPC for introducing what he described as a timely intervention for public servants approaching retirement.

He said the initiative would help dispel the widespread perception that retirement inevitably leads to hardship.

According to him, proper planning and entrepreneurship training would enable retiring workers to make informed investment decisions, reduce financial losses and improve their quality of life after leaving public service.

He expressed hope that the programme would be sustained and replicated across ministries, departments and agencies to strengthen retirement planning within the Federal Civil Service.

Caleb noted that similar initiatives could complement existing pre-retirement programmes and equip workers with practical business skills that would enable them to build sustainable livelihoods beyond government service.

ENDS