How NEPC is Preparing Retiring Workers for Life After Public Service — Ayeni
The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mrs Nonye Ayeni, has disclosed that the Council is equipping civil servants approaching retirement with export business skills to enable them to establish sustainable livelihoods after leaving public service.
Ayeni said the initiative was designed to help retiring workers prepare early for life after government employment by exposing them to opportunities in the non-oil export sector, rather than allowing them to depend solely on their retirement benefits.
Speaking with Economic Confidential during a stakeholders’ engagement and Non-Oil Export Town Hall Meeting in Kano, Ayeni said the Council had written to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to nominate civil servants who are due to retire within the next three years for the programme.
According to her, the initiative forms part of NEPC’s broader human-capital development and economic empowerment strategy aimed at ensuring that Nigerians acquire practical skills capable of generating income beyond formal employment.
“We will train and empower them so they can take care of themselves and their families after retirement. We have done the first stream and the next stream is coming soon,” she said.
Ayeni explained that the programme is intended to give prospective retirees a practical understanding of export entrepreneurship, enabling them to explore opportunities in the production, processing, packaging, certification, marketing and international distribution of Nigerian products.
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She said the initiative reflects NEPC’s recognition that retirement preparation should extend beyond administrative or financial arrangements to include the acquisition of sustainable entrepreneurial skills.
The NEPC boss said the Council was also investing heavily in the development of young people and women, who she described as important participants in Nigeria’s emerging export economy.
She disclosed that more than 140 women had been trained in export strategies, including digital trade, and supported with grants ranging from $5,000 to $30,000.
“These grants helped them establish themselves as formidable business partners in non-oil exports,” Ayeni said.
She added that NEPC’s Export Mentorship Programme was connecting young Nigerians with established exporters to provide practical exposure to product sourcing, export documentation, standards, market access and international trade procedures.
Building Skills Beyond Public Service
Ayeni said the focus on retirees, women and young people was part of a wider effort by NEPC to build a skilled and resilient population capable of participating meaningfully in the non-oil economy.
She maintained that Nigeria’s export ambitions could not be achieved through government policies alone, stressing the importance of developing people with the skills required to take advantage of opportunities in domestic and international markets.
The CEO also said NEPC was strengthening the capacity of its own workforce through continuous professional training to improve technical expertise and service delivery.
“A competent and continuously trained workforce is essential to achieving our organisational goals,” she said.
By PRNigeria
