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By 2030, the target date for the sustainable development goals, Nigerian youths would have achieved full access to economic, social and political participation.
This assertion was made at the weekend by Mr Chinedu Amadi, president of the Organization of Youths in International Trade and Commerce while commenting on the just concluded Houston ’22 Trade Show and Exhibition.
His projection was partly based on an eventful third quarter 2022 with exciting performances of Nigerian youths at the World Athletics at Oregon, the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the spectacular performance at Houston ’22 in Texas, U.S.A where the very first Trade Show by the OY-ITC attracted a $5million foreign direct investment for the purchase of Nigerian produce.
The OY-ITC Houston 2022 Tradeshow and Exhibition held at the prestigious Expo Event Center, Houston Texas focused extensively on creating of jobs for youths through the provision of the education and skills needed to contribute to a productive economy.
Themes for discussion included capacity building through structured training and development for youth and women; the role of government in promoting non-oil export trade especially in the areas of provision of infrastructure, financial support and policy formulation targeted at enhancing non- oil export trade; branding, packaging and adequate registration as necessary building blocks for the growth of non-oil export trade in developing economies.
These themes were aptly captured in a paper by Dr Njideka Kelley, president of AFROAGRICEXPO LLC Houston Texas, USA, who emphasized that Nigeria/Africa will experience positive economic growth if the youths and women are encouraged to champion the growth and expansion of non-oil export trade by embracing technology and training.
In the discussions that followed participants focused on Agriculture, Manufacturing, Solid Minerals and Services as sectors that provide compelling opportunities for export trade. Discussants also listed strategies to access these opportunities.
The exhibition stands at Houston ’22 displayed a vast array of original Nigerians products and crops arrested the interest of the international community. Visitors at the stands, including AFROAGRICEXPO LLC agreed to bulk purchases of products, from members of the OY-ITC, for distribution in Houston and other parts of the U.S.A. The AFROAGRICEXPO LLC is also looking at training/mentorship programmes via zoom and in-country visit to Nigeria for OY-ITC members.
As part of the activities, the Mayor of Houstons office held a closed door meeting with the executive management of the OY-ITC. The Mayors office looked forward to greater cooperation with the OY-ITC with the Tradeshow and Exhibitions as a regular feature of that relationship.
