According to the Abuja World Trade Centre (WTC), Nigeria produces 70% of the world’s yams, yet only 11% of the crop is exported.

Head of Trade Services David Oke gave a speech on Tuesday, April 1st, at the sixth edition of the LinkedIn Local Abuja event, which had as its theme “Multidimensional Intelligence for Career Prosperity.”

Oke emphasised the need for research in creating long-term riches and urged young businesspeople to investigate Nigeria’s yam export potential. 

“So how can we begin to leverage that (yam production) if we are producing that much? Can we export more?” Oke asked.

“Can we get people from Benue and other yam-producing states to package it for the export market? Can we fix our standardisation problem?

“The same issue applies to fish, vegetables, sesame seeds, and many other products that can drive national development.”

Oke highlighted the rapid growth of the Nigerian diaspora community, which has made Nigerian food and fashion increasingly popular in Australia, London, and other parts of the world.

According to him, Africa is poised to become the next hub for global trade, and Nigeria must capitalise on its human capital by involving young people in international trade.

Oke added that young people can use the government’s many programs and initiatives, like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) protocols and the ECOWAS trade liberalisation scheme (ETLS), to increase trade opportunities.

Elsie Nemieboka, a psychologist and human resources professional, also spoke at the event and stressed the value of mental toughness in the workplace.

Resilience, according to her, aids workers in navigating organisational politics and maintaining focus on their objectives.

Nemieboka says mental toughness is the capacity to persevere and maintain resolve in the face of setbacks, even when efforts are not acknowledged, to accomplish goals.

Source: TheCable

Image Credit: Veggie Grow