By VICTOR NWACHUKWU

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and other business stakeholders in Imo have officially unveiled nijazone.com, an online marketplace.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the unveiling took place in Owerri, on Saturday.

The Imo NEPC Coordinator, Mr Anthony Ajuruchi, said the platform would address value chain challenges, such as logistics, buyer verification and authenticity, as well as seller identification.

He described nijazone as a “welcome development”, while advising existing and intending exporters to “key into the system without delay so as to expand their reach“.

The Chief Executive Officer, Nijazone, Chief Joachim Nwogu, represented by Mr Uche Ndubuisi, said although nijazone originated from Imo, it would grow beyond Nigeria and across the world.

“Nijazone’s unique ability is our access to the rural populace, whom we link to the rest of the world.

“So, if our farmers hook up with us, their products will no longer perish, but be sold from the comfort of their homes,“ Nwogu said.

Also, the company‘s Country Director, Dr Ngozi Okechukwu, said that the platform was borne out of a desire to add value to African traditional products through a wider market capable of generating foreign exchange revenue.

Okechukwu said that among other things, nijazone.com would create employment along the value chain, take youths away from the streets and reduce social vices.

“We are targeting at least 1,000 jobs in Imo this year.

“Our trained staff will go to the rural communities to train youths on how to navigate the website independently and how to get self-employed, when they offer needed services, such as dispatch and others to buyers and sellers,” she said.

Also speaking, Mr Frank Nneji, a businessman and Chief Executive Officer of ABC Transport Limited, described the initiative as “the best rural vendor that manages orders”.

Nneji urged Nigerians to put their mobile phones to better use by keying into nijazone.com and connecting with people across Nigeria’s borders.

The Technical Adviser to the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the Imo Government, Mrs Jovita Agwu, urged youths especially to access the platform, adding that it would provide the opportunity for business owners to introduce Imo to the rest of the world.

The Imo Commissioner for Entrepreneurship, Skills Acquisition and Social Responsibility, Prof. Chinonye Moses, advised rural producers to insist on wholesomeness and originality so as to meet global standards.

Moses was represented at the event by the Ministry’s Head, Department of Skills Acquisition, Mrs Ukamaka Umeh.

NAN reports that small business owners, as well as representatives of relevant government agencies, such as the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, attended the ceremony. (NAN)

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