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Imo Records Over 1 Million Dollars from Non-Oil Exports in 2025, Says NEPC
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has reported that exporters in Imo State generated a total of 1,244,095 dollars from non-oil exports in 2025.
Imo NEPC Coordinator Anthony Ajuruchi made the disclosure on Thursday during a follow-up engagement with cocoa farmers in Owerri. He said the proceeds came from both formal and informal export transactions completed within the year.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that 50 cocoa farmers and exporters in Imo received 30 cocoa seedlings each in 2025 as part of efforts to boost production for export.
Ajuruchi commended NEPC Executive Director Nonye Ayeni and the management team for supporting the growth of the non-oil export market in Imo and across Nigeria. He said the council recorded notable achievements in 2025, including capacity-building programmes on packaging, labelling, and non-oil export development.
He added that the council conducted training on product certification, export documentation, market penetration, and contract processes for about 600 exporters and small businesses.
According to him, the engagement with cocoa farmers aimed to gather feedback and explore strategies to increase production and export volume in 2026.
One of the beneficiaries, Sophia Orji, said her cocoa seedlings had begun fruiting after 17 months. Another farmer, Mary Okeke, said her plants were thriving and called for more support during the rainy season.
Director of Produce at the Imo Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Investment, Canice Nze, encouraged farmers to register with the ministry to benefit from cooperative structures and possible government grants.
