Our Terms & Conditions | Our Privacy Policy
Nigerian students scheming to flee Nigeria soon after university hoping to make it big abroad have been told that there may be no need for such.
Instead, they have been told of the bigger opportunities in the export business that could fetch better income with rest of mind.
This was the highlight of year two of students export event at the Rivers State University (RSU).
Ofon Udofia, who made a presentation at the RSU Amphitheatre last week said the mass exodus by Nigerian youths could be curtailed by introduction of export training to recruit a new army of exporters.
Udofia is the executive director of the Institute of Export Operations and Management (IEOM) with headquarters in Port Harcourt.
The Institute now has an export academy, for which Udofia said there would be no need to japa when students could learn export skills and can travel to any country of choice.
He said the best way for the FG to achieve its aim in export is to introduce Export Studies in universities. This way, Entrepreneurship Centres in universities would not need to beg for funds but would rather make money.
Udofia says he sees export education coming to Nigerian universities. He said this is the only way to make Nigeria an exporting country. “If you are not export-ready, your money will vanish. So, study export trade, and take action, now.
Read also: Students find something better than yahoo as export institute opens hubs in universities
He urged the students to embrace transparency so their products could be traced and be verifiable. “These are hallmarks of export trade. If companies enter Nigeria to do export, you are the ones they will employ and train further.
“Join, train, get certificate. There are exportable products in every community. Go back to yours and look well. We will guide you to look better. We are creating a community of exporters in Nigeria.”
He also urged students in universities in Port Harcourt and beyond to use same skills used in defrauding foreigners (yahoo-yahoo) to make legitimate income bigger than whatever yahoo business can fetch for the get-rich-quick generation.
The new scheme is export academy which has many roles to play in the export value chain such that those that cannot cope with handling products can use yahoo-like skills to hunt for buyers around the world for a physical exporter in Nigeria.
This scheme was unveiled at the Amphi-theatre in the Rivers State University (RSU), formerly University of Science and Technology (UST) where Dr Udofia unveiled the package.
Dr Udofia showed the students how to do business without capital, using your head (brains) as capital. He said young people must use the opportunity of a university to equip themselves for life ahead but regretted that many youths want to go into politics but they may not know that most politicians do not have confidence in themselves.
He said one of the best ways to be make money while still in school is to join the export youth army instead of joining yahoo army. “Use your smart intelligence to make cool money where the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will not need to hunt for you.
“There are many people living fake lives. Most of those who claim to be into oil/gas have not seen crude oil let alone gas before. Do not be like such people.”
He said: “You can use the skill you have in doing yahoo to be a finder. You search out buyers and link them to an exporter and get your commission. You can export without money. Choose a place the export value chain.”
He pointed to examples such as buying and storing and aggregating. He also revealed why Ghana garri fares better in the export market, saying its all about moisture content (found more in Nigerian stuff).
In her presentation, Dr Mercy Chinanu Odibe, director of training at the IEOM, assured the students that venturing into export trade would easily make them global citizens.
She said they scheme was to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical industry exposure. “It is our hope that this programme will serve as a springboard, awakening a new generation of young Nigerians to the vast opportunities that lie in international trade and export development.
Odibe said: “To the students present here, this programme is for you. I urge you to absorb everything, ask questions, make connections, and begin to imagine yourself—not just as a graduate; but as a global citizen with something valuable to offer the world.”
Prof Joy Eke-Ejiofor, professor and director, Entrepreneurship Debt Centre, Rivers State University (RSU), endorsed the scheme, saying when it was first introduced in 2024, many students recorded success by registering export firms and got support.
Speaking through a message sent to the event, Dr Chinyere Nwoga, President, Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), said the city chamber fully endorsed the scheme adding that the executive director of IEOM is the head of export/import trade group in PHCCIMA.
She said the PHICCIMA has been in serious advocacy for youth empowerment.
Speaking, Dr Mandu Inana, PH zonal head of the Nigerian Stored Product Research Institute (NSPRI) showed the partnership it has with the IEOM as well as the RSU.
She went on: “Our Institute has developed many technologies that can significantly impact positively on your agricultural endeavors and open lucrative business opportunities for you
“Some of our innovations includes Parabolic Shaped Solar Dryer (PSSD) and Improved Inert Atmosphere Silos (IIAS), which have been successfully deployed across Nigeria, directly benefiting over 20,000 individuals and 1,500 households. These technologies have demonstrated the potential to reduce postharvest losses by up to 50%, dramatically increasing processing capacity and farmer incomes.
“Also, our NSPRI Hermetic Steel Drums provide airtight, non-chemical preservation of dried crops, including grains, pulses, roots, tubers, fruits, vegetables, fisheries, and livestock products.
“These drums can safely store agricultural produce for extended periods, ensuring quality maintenance and reducing spoilage losses. For our fishing communities, we have developed the NSPRI Iced-Fish Box, which preserves fresh fish for up to 48 hours, and our Fish-Smoking Kilns that ensure high-quality, uniformly dried fish products. Additionally, our Multicrop and Hybrid Dryers and various value-addition equipment enable entrepreneurs to process agricultural products into marketable forms, creating multiple revenue streams from single commodities. Students and young entrepreneurs like you can use these technologies to establish profitable agribusiness ventures.”
On his own, Dr Chimbuo Victor C, managing director, Ambi-Dex Engineering Construction Limited, said the students are the future great men and women; the future billionaires. “You are the most fortunate generation with highest opportunities.”
Some of the students that participated said the day was a well spent one. Dornu Barine Felix said students now understand why everything must be done to boost export trade. “The insight I’ve gotten just like I’m from Ogoni, and one of the organisers pointed out that there are many natural resources that we can take note of and exploit to help us financially.”
Another student, Deborah Martin Uchechukwu, said: “I actually love the export programme because it gives financial strength to students who can’t cater for themselves. When I saw this, I said I was going to going to attend, and I’ve learnt that I could make money even while being a student. I’m going to put what I’ve learnt here today into practice.”
Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.
Aggregated From –
Comments are closed.