Nigerian exports have fallen below those of Afghanistan in the list of vendor countries at the United Nations’ Global Marketplace (UNGM).
This was disclosed in a chart which was displayed at an online seminar organised by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and aimed at accessing international market through the United Nations Office for Project Services.
According to the chart, Afghanistan was ranked the third position on the list of countries that supply goods to the UNGM as Nigeria fell below the 10th position in the ranking.
Speaking on the sideline of the event, the Head of Office, UNOPS, Otuno Pius, availed that the country needs a more competitive economy in order to get a higher ranking
He said: “For you to compete in the UNGM, you should understand that there are others and the UN is working with taxpayers’ funds.
“If Nigeria has to compete, then the issue of standards has to rise up. We must move beyond what we are doing.”
In his keynote address, the Chief Executive Officer of NEPC, Segun Awolowo, said: “You will agree with me that if appreciable achievement is to be recorded at promoting non-oil exports as the key driver of the Nigerian economy, consistent efforts must be made to develop and regularly enhance the capacity of Nigerian exporters to enable them to access the international market.
“This is why the NEPC has organised this national seminar to educate Nigerian exporting community on how to access the multibillion-dollar market of the UN and affiliates.
“Nigeria has tremendous potential to become key suppliers and providers to the UN agencies if efforts are geared towards meeting standards and complying with international best practices in our production and processing methods.”
