The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr. Honour Sirawoo, has pledged the ministry’s support for the State Committee on Export Promotion (SCEP).
He emphasised the role of strategic communication in promoting locally produced goods, expanding export opportunities, and driving economic growth in the state.
Dr. Sirawoo gave the assurance yesterday when a delegation of SCEP and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) paid a courtesy visit to the ministry in Port Harcourt to seek collaboration, particularly in media engagement and public enlightenment.
Welcoming the delegation, the Permanent Secretary commended the committee for recognising its communication challenges and seeking practical solutions.
He assured the team of the ministry’s readiness to collaborate, noting that the state government was open to partnerships that would contribute to the development of Rivers State.
“We are available to partner with you, and we also have a governor and government that are willing to partner with any organisation that will add value to our state”, he said.
Stressing that effective communication was essential to the success of organisations and development initiatives, Sirawoo noted that Rivers State had significant potential in tourism, natural resources, human capacity and locally produced goods, which could attract wider markets through effective publicity and promotion.
He stated the ministry’s commitment to supporting initiatives that would benefit the state and its people, adding that the success of the committee’s activities would also contribute to the broader development of Rivers State.
“We believe that if you achieve it, it will not just be good for you, but it will be good for all of us, particularly those of us that are going to help you drive it”, he said.
The Permanent Secretary further disclosed that the ministry had nominated a desk officer to facilitate communication and ensure a sustained working relationship with the committee.
Speaking on behalf of the NEPC Regional Coordinator, Ngozi Ibe, Ikuroye Chinelo Olga explained that the council was responsible for promoting non-oil exports, a mandate that aligned with SCEP’s objectives.
She said collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Communications would enable the committee to reach a wider audience, increase public awareness of its activities and promote export opportunities across Rivers State.
“For us to reach out to the masses, for us to be visible, we need to work and collaborate with the Ministry of Information and Communications, she said, expressing the delegation’s desire for a sustainable partnership with the ministry.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Oil Palm Growers Association, Erasmus Chukunda, said SCEP was established in Port Harcourt in 2016 but had faced challenges in publicising its achievements.
“The SCEP was set up in 2016 in Port Harcourt here, and since then it has been difficult for us to mention the achievements we have made”, he said.
Chukunda explained that the committee’s primary responsibility was to identify products manufactured or produced in Rivers State, support local producers in preparing them for export, and work with NEPC to connect them to wider markets.
He noted that extending export promotion initiatives to rural communities would help residents recognise the commercial value of locally available products, stimulate rural enterprise and create employment opportunities.
“If that is achieved, it will increase the rural economy. It will also discourage rural-urban migration because at that point, there will be a lot of industrial activities going on in the rural areas”, he said.
Chukunda called for greater support from the Rivers State Government to enable the committee to implement its programmes and improve the visibility of its activities.
He expressed optimism that stronger collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Communications would enhance public awareness, showcase the state’s economic potential, and connect local producers with export opportunities.
The visit is expected to strengthen collaboration among the Ministry of Information and Communications, SCEP and NEPC, particularly in public enlightenment, the promotion of locally produced goods and the expansion of export opportunities, with the broader objectives of generating employment and advancing economic development in Rivers State.
- Victor is of the Department of Public Enlightenment.