Abuja, Nigeria – 25/09/24. Dr. Victor Ayemere, Group Managing Director of Zeenab Foods and chairman of The Nigerian Exporters Hub led a delegation to meet with Mr. Segun Awolowo, the National Coordinator of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), to discuss the impressive progress of the Nigerian Exporters Hub (Nexhub). Nexhub, a groundbreaking platform driving non-oil exports, was born out of the Nigerian Export Trade House (ETH) initiative in China, a brainchild of Mr. Awolowo during his tenure at the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).
During the meeting, Dr. Ayemere stated, “I have come to let you know that your initiative has given birth to a baby giant – Nexhub – that is shaking the non-oil export space in Nigeria. The Export Trade House in China, which was part of your initiative, has successfully birthed this platform that is transforming the industry.” He further emphasized the integrity and vision that led to the success of Nexhub, remarking, “Good men still exist,” as he praised Mr. Awolowo for his decision to approve Zeenab Foods as the operator of the ETH in China without any personal acquaintance or lobbying. Notably, this meeting was the very first face-to-face interaction between Dr. Ayemere and Mr. Awolowo, underscoring Mr. Awolowo's commitment to fairness and excellence in the selection process for the trade houses.
This meeting marked a significant milestone, as it was the first time the two leaders were seeing each other, highlighting the transparent and merit-based approach taken in the establishment of the trade houses. Mr. Awolowo expressed his satisfaction with the report, stating his pride in hearing that the ETH in China is operating well and contributing significantly to Nigeria's non-oil export landscape.
Mr. Babatunde Faleke, Managing Director of Nexhub, also provided an overview of the platform’s success, highlighting its growing user base of over 435 subscribers and 120,000 registered users. Nexhub’s strategic support for exporters has contributed to the diversification of Nigeria’s economy and laid the groundwork for expansion into broader African markets, aligning with AfCFTA’s vision to boost intra-African trade.
Mr. Awolowo reinforced the importance of strengthening intra-African trade under the AfCFTA framework, with particular focus on Nigeria’s agricultural exports. He encouraged increased investment in production capabilities, especially in sectors such as cocoa, cashew, and sesame seeds, which are vital to Nigeria’s export growth. Additionally, he emphasized the role of Afrexim Bank’s initiatives to promote intra-African trade and encouraged exporters to take advantage of these opportunities.
The meeting concluded with discussions on tapping into the Nigerian diaspora's potential to drive trade and investment in key export commodities, stressing the importance of upholding high-quality standards to maintain Nigeria’s competitive edge in international markets.
