Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, said the ministry would strengthen engagement with manufacturers to improve industrial performance in order to drive economic growth and development.
On Tuesday in Lagos, Uzoka-Anite spoke at the opening ceremony of the seventh edition of the Nigerian Manufacturing Equipment Expo and the ninth edition of the Nigerian Raw Materials Expo.
According to NAN, the topic of the expo was “Future Manufacturing: Building a Sustainable Roadmap to the Industrialisation of Nigeria.”
The Minister, who was represented by Mrs Olumuyiwa Ajayi-Ade, a deputy director at the ministry, stated that Nigeria must prioritize the growth of its raw materials sector in order to help the manufacturing industry.
According to her, by focusing on value addition and local sourcing, the country may minimize its dependency on imported raw materials while improving overall product competitiveness.
She stated that the ministry’s policy measures were focussed on establishing an enabling environment to increase manufacturers’ competitiveness.
Uzoka-Anite also stated that the ministry was committed to incentivizing production activities and encouraging the usage of Nigerian-made products in order to improve its contributions to the GDP and job creation.
While the future of manufacturing in Nigeria is dependent on its ability to embrace technological improvements, she believes that manufacturers must begin to use new technological trends to drive productivity.
“By adopting these cutting-edge technologies, competitiveness of our local manufacturers would be boosted and Nigeria would be positioned as a global manufacturing hub.
“In line with the objectives of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, it is essential that we intentionally shift our focus towards non-oil manufacturing sectors such as agriculture, textiles, automotive, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy.
“Through fostering innovation, championing local content, and strategically investing in critical infrastructure, we have the potential to catalyse the development of a robust and globally competitive manufacturing sector, thereby significantly contributing to our economy,” she said.