The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), on Tuesday, convened major stakeholders in Lokoja, Kogi State, for a capacity building programme on value addition opportunities across key solid mineral value chains aimed at strengthening non-oil export performance.
The event which brought together representatives from government institutions, financial bodies, organized private sector groups, miners, processors, exporters, and development partners, seek to deliberate on strategies for enhancing value addition within the solid minerals sector.
In his opening address, the NEPC State Coordinator, Mr. Adam Akinlabi Abayomi, welcomed participants and emphasized the need for Nigeria to move beyond the export of raw minerals to beneficiation, processing, branding, and certification, stating that value addition remains critical to job creation, industrial growth, increased foreign exchange earnings, and improved competitiveness in the global minerals market.
“For too long, our nation has relied heavily on the export of raw commodities, missing out on the transformative benefits that value addition brings,” he said.
Abayomi reaffirmed NEPC’s commitment to its Double Your Exports initiative and urged stakeholders to strengthen collaboration across the mineral value chain to unlock Kogi State’s vast potential.
Delivering the goodwill message on behalf of the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon. Muhammed Muktar Shuaibu, the Higher Data Processing Officer, Mr. Oluwatimilehin A. Joash, commended NEPC for organizing the timely programme, noting that sustainable economic growth lies not only in extraction but also in the value created through processing, refining, manufacturing, branding, marketing, and export of finished and semi-finished products.
“True and sustainable economic growth lies not only in what we extract from the earth, but in the value we create with what we process and export,” the Commissioner stated.
The Commissioner urged participants to engage meaningfully, build partnerships, and ensure that deliberations translate into measurable impact across the state’s mineral value chain.
Stakeholders, including representatives of the Bank of Industry, KOCCIMA, the Miners Association, and other sector players emphasized the urgent need to bridge existing gaps within the mineral value chain.
Discussions also focused on improving access to affordable financing, strengthening regulatory compliance, enhancing standardization and certification processes, and expanding market access both locally and internationally.
The Bank of Industry, through its representative, Miri Posan, reiterated its readiness to provide structured funding support for viable mining and value addition projects, while private sector representatives called for stronger government collaboration to attract credible investors and boost confidence in the sector.
The Miners Association also stressed the importance of moving beyond sensitization to practical implementation that delivers tangible benefits to operators and host communities.
Furthermore, participants highlighted the need for improved data management, better coordination among relevant agencies, and deliberate policies that encourage downstream processing rather than the continued export of raw minerals.
There was also a collective agreement that value chain integration remains critical to ensuring that miners, processors, exporters, and financial institutions operate within a cohesive and mutually beneficial ecosystem.
The forum concluded with a renewed commitment by NEPC and its partners to intensify stakeholder engagement, deepen technical support, and expand capacity building initiatives across the state, with the Council reaffirming its resolve to drive the Double Your Exports agenda within the solid minerals sector, while working closely with the Kogi State Government and organized private sector to translate policy into measurable outcomes.
With sustained collaboration, strategic investment, and deliberate focus on value addition, stakeholders expressed confidence that Kogi State can emerge as a leading contributor to Nigeria’s non-oil export growth and solidify its position as a competitive hub in the global minerals market.
