Gains of non-oil exports, by author

With a mission to guide exporters on proper procedures and documentation, Mr Obiana Madu, Programme Director of Multimix Academy, has launched three books in Lagos.

The books which are testimonies of the author’s passion for knowledge- based economy include Managing Import Logistics: Procedure and Documentation, Agro-Commodity Export Guide and Getting Paid in International Trade. all the books which cut across all sectors of the economy namely: banking, shipping, supply chain management and many more were presented at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Reseach (NIMR) Yaba- Lagos.

In his remarks, President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Otunba Femi Deru, described the publications as providing a veritable pathway to sustainable prosperity of business and the economy.
He noted that at a crucial time like this when the Nigerian economy is recovering from the global meltdown that has plagued many other economies, it has become imperative for Nigeria to diversify away from in oil and gas.

While unveiling the books, Dr. Phil Offolue of Sifax Group, explained that the publication will assist patriotic and courageous Nigerians who dare to play where others shy away, this is because Nigerian businessmen, according to Offolue, are only interested in quick export his words:
“Export is a step by step business, when one is lifted, it becomes difficult for him/her to crash. It is one of the businesses that can turn Nigeria around and none of our politicians is interested in talking about it. Hence, the book is fashioned for easy export activities”

Madu who has published five books on export, said that he was moved to think about the books while working in the bank. According to him, he noticed, that about 95 percent of documents presented by Nigerian exporters had a lot of discrepancies.
The implication is that once the exporter has such inconsistencies, it is either he/she loses part of the money or all. His words: “ When I left the banking sector , it became strong in my mind to set up an export academy where we could train and consult for those who want to go into export to help them avoid mistakes that are always there or lose their money. It is a subject that can be taught and leant. But the fact is that Nigerians don’t always pay attention to this. 

We live to do the last thing first.”
On how the economy can be salvalged from monotype, Madu said: “ It is to pay attention to non-oil sector.This can only be possible by investing money from oil and gas sector to non-oil sector. And everything we need to export such as cassava, shearnut, plantain and coconut which are top ten products in Africa are in abundance in Nigera.”

Madu that the re-invigoration of commercial sections of embassies so that they can be effective and alive to their functions. His words: “as far as I’m concerned the commercial sections of Nigerian embassies are virtually non-existent. If they are working and officials sent as Commercial Attaches are told about trade position of the country and its expectations, they will work accordingly. At present, it is just civil service posting where one just earns his/her dollars and when the official’s time is up, another person is brought in to replace the outgoing one. 

“ The challenge is that the Nigerian government is not strategic about who occupies the commercial sections of her embassies. This is where we need political will that tells Nigerians the directon of our Non- oil Export, with a view to honestly pursuing it. Unfortunately, all the debates and campaigns that had gone forth among those who want to rule the country in the next four years, none of has mentioned issues of export both at Governorship and Presidential levels. It shows how shallow our leaders are in this particular area.