Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) said that the country’s gemstones Industry was speedily gaining global attention with the appointment of Mrs Amina Okpukpara to the International Board of the Women Jewelry Association, New York.
Adesugba made the address while congratulating Okpukpara and other new members of the board on Tuesday in Abuja.
The NEPZA boss, also the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, explained further that the sector was a multi-billion-naira enterprise that required public and private collaboration for a more effective and efficient management.He said that it was gratifying to see how Okpukpara had consistently explored and exploited the sector both in Nigeria and the United States.
Adesugba, therefore, reiterated the Authority’s readiness to encourage Nigerians living abroad to link up with the sector back at home through the free trade zones corridors which had the required incentives to spike the needed enormous profits for the investors.
The NEPZA boss also noted that the Authority was working with the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and the `Best Centre,’ that specialised in the training of gemologists to widen the scope of the trade in order to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country.
“This is a huge enterprise and investors are welcome to collaborate with us on how to promote the sector in our free zones.
“I therefore, congratulate our newest ambassador in the sector, Mrs Amina Lotanna Okpukpara GIA GG, AJP on her well-deserved appointment to the International Board of the Women Jewelry Association.’’
The managing director, emphasized that ” she has contributed immensely to the gemstones and Jewelry Industry in Nigeria and Africa. We are, however, not surprised with this new appointment as she has long craved to be an international player in the sector.’’
