By Ifeoma Asika, Correspondent Campuses

The challenges of the non-oil sector during and post COVID-19 will be the focus of a virtual forum being put together today by Zenith Bank Plc.   The webinar, holding via Zoom, will be highlighted by representatives of government and regulatory agencies, non governmental organizations and export consultants, among others.

The Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer(GMD/CEO) of Zenith Bank Plc, Ebenezer Onyeagwu, will lead presentations at the webinar. 

Also billed to present at the virtual forum are the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council(NEPC), Olusegun Awolowo, Director of Trade Exchange, Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), Dr. Ozoemena S. Nnaji, Lead Consultant, 3T Impex Trade Academy, Bamidele Ayemibo, Chairman and Founder, AfriExporter Group, Idris Mamukuyomi, Assistant Comptroller, Export Desk, Apapa Port Command, Nigeria Cusoms Service, Ochai Nelson Agbese, Business Development Manager, Cobalt International Services Limited, Odimegwu Obih, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer(MD/CEO), Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending(NIRSAL Plc), Aliyu Abdulameed.

Speakers at the virtual forum include: Olusegun Awolowo and Dr. Ozoemena S. Nnaji.

Currently, Olusegun Awolowo is Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Nigeria’s apex organisation for the promotion of non-oil exports as a key driver for the diversification of the nation’s economy.

Awolowo leads a team of nearly 400 staff spread across over 20 offices with the Headquarters in Abuja. Nigeria’s non-oil sector is a major contributor to the nation’s GDP and has even greater potential, which is the reason Awolowo is driving an ambitious Zero Oil Plan as an economic blueprint for Nigeria.  Under his leadership, NEPC won the ITC’s prestigious World Trade Promotion Organisation (WTPO) 2018 Award, for the Best Initiative to Ensure Trade is Inclusive and Sustainable.

He currently serves on the International Trade Centre’s (ITC) Advisory Board.

Dr. Nnaji is currently the Director of the Trade and Exchange Department at the Central Bank of Nigeria where she directs the Bank in trade policy and Foreign Exchange Management.

She holds a Ph.D. in Economics. Her interest is in monetary policy and monetary policy transmission to the real economy.

In addition, she is also interested in development issues and factors needed to aid or quicken development for developing countries through trade policy. Her currently research interest is on the role of trade policy and quality of institution on development, and the importance of promoting small enterprises as a development tool to jump start inclusive growth.