Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) said it is collaborating with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to develop the export potentials of local products of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and boost job creation.
Speaking during the official visit of NEPC delegates to the institute, Director General of FIIRO, Prof. Gloria Elemo, said the partnership is particularly aimed at value addition to agro commodities, adding that through the initiative, more jobs would be created for Nigerian youths.
Elemo stated: “We have taken note of some strategic approaches of NEPC that are relevant to FIIRO’s mandate, which include Small and Medium Enterprises export development, development of priority export products, and establishment of a world class export training institute.
“I strongly believe that the two organisations have complementary roles to play in promoting value added export, most especially agro and mineral resources, to boost non-oil export. While NEPC has a core mandate to promote non-oil export, FIIRO has a core mandate in agro processing and value addition, to produce exportable products with enhanced economic value.”
FIIRO is Nigeria’s foremost research institute with the mandate of accelerating industrialization in the country by finding utilization for the nation’s raw materials and upgrading indigenous production technologies that promotes the ideals of entrepreneurship development.
NEPC was established to spearhead the diversification of the Nigerian economy by expanding and increasing non-oil exports for sustainable and inclusive economic growth, and to foster market -oriented, private sector-driven economy through market oriented export products development