The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) recently held an exposition to close information gaps and deepen sustainable local sourcing of available raw materials by manufacturing industries.
The exposition, which is the seventh edition of the Nigerian Manufacturing Equipment Expo (NME) and the ninth edition of the Nigerian Raw Materials Expo (NIRAM), saw stakeholders from both the manufacturing sector converging in Lagos to chart the best possible path forward towards sourcing raw materials locally for industrial production.
MAN’s president, Otunba Francis Meshioye said it has become necessary for the manufacturing sector to play a vital role in the nation’s vision of becoming one of the leading industrialised economies in Africa as they are most affected.
Themed, ‘Future Manufacturing: Building a Sustainable Roadmap to the Industrialisation of Nigeria’, he said the theme is informed by the rate at which the world is changing in terms of innovative technologies and shifting customer expectations, all of which have a considerable impact on the future of the sector.
Speaking, he said if manufacturers can efficiently balance a combination of efficient economies of production and supply chains; strong and reputable products; loyal customers; an established logistics network; as well as reliable online business elements, they will be well-positioned to compete favourably in the industrial marketplace.
“Industry 4.0 remains a considerable opportunity for African manufacturers, ultimately giving us a cutting edge over the global economy. Beyond manufacturing, all industrial and commercial businesses in the country also suffer from energy inadequacy and inefficiency. It is for this reason that investors in the economy will continue to push for sustained efforts to bring about significant improvement in the quality and consistent supply of electricity. The vision of an industrialised Nigeria would remain an illusion until we resolve the constraints that affect the ease of doing business”. Urging the minister of trade and federal government to establish synergy between Nigeria’s trade and industrial policies, he added that the latter is urgently needed.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, stressed the need to deploy a demand-driven research and development solution for economic growth and industrialisation. Adding that the survival of manufacturing industries is dependent largely on the availability of raw materials, he added that stakeholders in the raw materials and manufacturing value chain of the economy must be educated on the need to prevent the dumping of sub-standard raw materials and products in Nigeria from various sources across the world.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Development, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite on her part, said the future of manufacturing means the non-oil sector must be developed through strong manufacturing processes. Adding that manufacturing is a critical driver of economic development and crucial for sustainable growth and job creation, she said it has the potential to transform the nation’s economy, diversify revenue sources and reduce the nation’s dependence on oil.
Urging manufacturers to leverage emerging trends to enhance their processes, improve efficiency and drive productivity; she said by adopting cutting-edge technologies, Nigeria can boost the competitiveness of its local manufacturers and position the country as a global manufacturing hub. Also advocating for the use of clean and sustainable energy in manufacturing processes, the minister urged the quick development of the raw materials sector to support the manufacturing industry.
