The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), has launched a pivotal workshop aimed at enhancing the export competitiveness of Nigeria’s gemstone sector.
Speaking at the workshop on Tuesday in Kano, the Executive Director of NEPC, Mrs Nonye Ayeni, emphasised the importance of transforming Nigeria’s gemstone industry.
“Countries that dominate the gemstone export market do so not because they mine the most, but because they add the most value,” she said,
Represented by the North-West Regional Coordinator of the agency, Hajiya Amina Abdulmalik, she stressed that gemstones in their raw form do not yield the same economic potential as polished, value-added products.
“Nigeria, blessed with a wealth of gemstones such as Sapphire, Tourmaline, Emerald, Topaz, Harnet, and Amethyst, boasts substantial deposits across various states, including Kano and its neighboring regions,” she explained.
Ayeni pointed out that a significant proportion of the country’s gemstones were exported in their rough, unprocessed state, limiting both foreign exchange earnings and job creation.
According to her, the practice, results in other countries capturing the economic value through processing and finishing.
She stressed that the workshop aligns with the NEPC’s strategic campaign, #DoubleYourExports, which calls for a transition from raw mineral exports to processed, certified, and globally competitive finished products.
“This is not just a technical exercise, but an economic strategy to elevate Nigeria’s position in the global gemstone market,” Ayeni said.
Ayeni also highlighted the importance of organized clusters and collaboration between miners, processors, exporters, and financial institutions.
“When miners operate informally and individually, value is lost. But when they work within organized clusters, skills improve, costs reduce, and standards strengthen,” she added.
The NEPC boss also affirmed the Council’s commitment to providing continuous support to the gemstone sector.
Hajiya Amina Abdulmalik, NEPC North-West Regional Coordinator, called for the transformation of Nigeria’s gemstone value chain to meet international standards.
She stressed the importance of miners and artisans acquiring skills to produce high-quality, market-ready gemstones.
Abdulmalik highlighted that the workshop supports NEPC’s mandate to promote non-oil exports and create sustainable livelihoods through value addition.
She said that the training would cover quality management, export documentation, and market access strategies to enhance global competitiveness.
Speaking also, Alhaji Hamza Safiyanu, Commissioner, Kano State Ministry of Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, outlined key strategies for advancing the sector.
He stressed the ministry’s progress through data collection, stakeholder engagement, and policy development.
“We are now focusing on providing artisans miners with opportunities to market their products, a major achievement in our efforts,” he said,
Safiyanu emphasised the need for miners to understand global markets and their sector’s potential.
