By Joy Akinsanya
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has tasked stakeholders in the solid minerals sector on improved packaging, and effective marketing to boost non-oil exports and drive sustainable economic diversification.
The Executive Director of NEPC, Mrs Nonye Ayeni, said this at an interactive forum for solid minerals stakeholders on value addition, packaging and marketing for the development of the solid minerals sector on Wednesday in Abeokuta.
Ayeni who was represented by the Ogun State Coordinator, Mrs Olajumoke Abolaji, noted that solid minerals sector held immense potential for Nigeria’s economic transformation.
She said the sector would provide a significant source of revenue and employment opportunities with 44 commercially viable minerals across the country.
Ayeni observed that in spite of the vast potential, the export of raw and unprocessed minerals had continued to limit the sector’s contribution to national growth and foreign exchange earnings.
“The most significant challenges facing the sector is the lack of value addition, proper packaging, lack of market access, lack of requisite certification, and formalisation.
“Most of our solid minerals are exported in their raw form, without value addition, which limits their market value and potential for economic growth.
“Value addition through processing and refining would increase global market value and competitiveness, while proper packaging and marketing would align products with international standards and attract potential to buyers,” she said.
Ayeni said NEPC’s strategic priorities include promoting value addition, strengthening export capacity, enhancing market access, and leveraging technology and innovation to expand the country’s export base.
She said the National Council on Commerce and Industry, in May 2025, approved the inclusion of solid minerals in the One State, One Product initiative to boost sectoral development and visibility.
She, however, urged participants to take advantage of available opportunities in the solid minerals sector and partner with the NEPC to promote sustainable development.
“The development of the solid minerals sector is critical to Nigeria’s economic growth, we must all work together to promote value addition, packaging and marketing to unlock its full potential,” she said.
Similarly, the NEPC Ogun State Coordinator, Abolaji, said the engagement aimed to transform the state’s abundant mineral resources into globally competitive export products.
“Ogun is blessed with abundant mineral resources and has the potential to drive inclusive growth and sustainable employment through mineral processing and export,” she said.
She added that the forum was timely, as Nigeria intensifies efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil through industrial development and non-oil export expansion.
She also urged participants to share ideas and form partnerships that would reposition the solid minerals sector as the key engine of economic growth and global competitiveness.
Delivering a lecture on Promotion of Solid Minerals Value Chain Development for Export Competitiveness, Mrs Duke Oyinkan, Chief Trade Promotion officer, NEPC, said Nigeria exported minerals worth $125 million in 2024.
Oyinkan disclosed that Nigeria exported solid minerals worth $125 million in 2024, with 212 active exporters, while over 80 per cent of mining activities remained informal.
She called for formalisation of the sector to maximise economic benefits.
According to her, local processing and beneficiation would increase revenue, create jobs, and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in global markets.
She also emphasised the importance of standard packaging, quality labeling and proper branding to meet international export standards.
Another speaker, Mr Olatunji Salau, the Chief Standard Officer from the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), took participants on Packaging and Labelling Requirements for Solid Minerals Products: Meeting International Best.
Salau underscored the need for miners and processors to comply with packaging, labeling, and certification requirements to ensure product quality and global acceptance.
He emphasised the importance of packaging, saying it serves as both protection and perception of the product.
He advised miners to invest in quality packaging that would safeguards products and enhances market appeal.
He also described labelling as a product’s “passport,” which must be accurate and compliant with export requirements to ensure acceptance in international markets.
According to him, product certification gives businesses a competitive edge by building consumer trust and enabling producers to command premium prices.
Salau also stressed that standardisation remains the foundation of industrial growth, urging stakeholders to adopt the Nigerian Industrial Standards in all stages of production and processing.
A participant, Mr Moshood Balogun, a sand miner at Ijebu-Ode, commended the NEPC for organising the programme, describing it as timely and relevant.
“This forum is highly beneficial, it has opened our eyes to so many things we don’t know about which has given us new knowledge and valuable business connections,” he said.
Balogun identified lack of finance as a major challenge for miners, and also non accessibility of loans or grants from financial institutions.
He, however, called for stronger government intervention through grants, effective monitoring, and the establishment of clear regulatory guidelines.
He also proposed a joint task force of miners and government representatives to combat illegal mining to promote responsible practices, and protect host communities.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
