The Secretary-General of the Federation, Boss Mustapha on Tuesday said the use of ‘Made-In-Nigeria’ products will attract benefits for the country.

He noted that Nigerians now proudly use products made in the country and this will contribute to GDP growth, more employment opportunities, etc.

The SGF said this on Tuesday during the opening ceremony of the exhibition of ‘Made-In-Nigeria’ products and cultural display held at Eagle Square, Abuja.

“Nigerians now proudly use products branded “Made-in-Nigeria”. This development will no doubt attract several benefits to the country including an increase in its Gross Domestic Product, generation of employment opportunities and reduction in the cost of production.

“This Made-In-Nigeria exhibition will help in propagating a new and positive narrative that Nigeria is ready to harness her own resources to become a global player in commerce,” he said.

He added that the recent development of more than twelve indigenous mobile cell phones by the Model Skills Centre of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments is a testimony to the strides the country is making in promoting Made-In-Nigeria products.

He explained further that the intervention of the Federal Government of Nigeria in developing local industries has resulted in a boom in the growth of local businesses.

“Local production of hitherto imported products is beginning to gain grounds that I make bold to say that the materials produced locally can compare favourably with the imported ones.”

The SGF said the manufacturing sector remains a key determinant of economic development and its interphase with the needs of the country determines the extent of our industrial growth.

“Manufacturing is part of the economic sector in Nigeria that contributes approximately 10 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product each year. The production activity centres on the production of Household goods, Consumer products, Agriculture, Mining, Cement, building materials Chemicals and so on.”

He said it is instructive to note that three sectors namely food & beverages, cement, and textile amount to 77% of the manufacturing output generating value in the country.

“The manufacturing sector in Nigeria has been performing well in recent years as compared to the past. The Government is beginning to show greater interest and provide more support for local production in order to encourage the growth of local industries.”

According to him, the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration in local production is being boosted by encouraging local entrepreneurs to take advantage of the various policies geared towards diversifying the economy.

Some of these include Executive Order 001 on Ease of Doing Business, review of the Companies and Allied Matters Act as well as the enactment of a Finance Act.

See full statement below…

KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY BOSS MUSTAPHA, SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERATION AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE EXHIBITION OF MADE – IN – NIGERIA PRODUCTS AND CULTURAL DISPLAY HELD ON TUESDAY, 15TH JUNE, 2021 AT THE EAGLE SQUARE, ABUJA.

Protocols

We are gathered here today to witness the culmination of a series of activities that have been taking place behind the scenes to complement the efforts of the Federal Government at ensuring that we produce what we eat and eat what we produce. In this context, we are to produce what we use and use what we produce.

I am, therefore, very pleased and highly honoured to be invited to deliver the Keynote Address at such a landmark event in the annals of our country’s history. This event, designed to last the next five days, is aimed at showcasing what we are capable of producing with our own local materials and expertise.

At the same time, we also want to remind ourselves of the beauty and strength in our diversity exemplified by the cultural troupes from various parts of Nigeria.

These displays would re-emphasise the commonality that runs through the country and should always serve as a rallying point for us all, rather than the present discordance being contrived to detract us from the path of development.

These events are being staged as part of activities marking the year-long celebration of Nigeria’s Diamond Jubilee.

I, therefore, wish to commend the Chairman of the Ownership Sub – Committee, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, CON and other members of the Sub – Committee for the successful hosting of these events.

Nigeria as a country is blessed with abundant human and material resources. It is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of natural resources, including huge oil and gas resources, untapped solid minerals and large uncultivated arable land.

It is Africa’s largest economy and twenty-fifth globally with a GDP of $410 billion we need to harness all our potentials and convert them to reality in order to not only move the nation up in economic advancement but most importantly to provide jobs for our ever-growing population.

Like most developing countries of the world, Nigeria’s period of sustained economic growth has been dependent on a raw material export-oriented economy and no meaningful industrial development can take place if we do not convert our raw materials to finished products to gain higher values.

Such is a sustainable pathway for economic growth to any nation.

The manufacturing sector remains a key determinant of economic development and its interphase with the needs of the country determines the extent of our industrial growth. The history of industrial development and manufacturing in Nigeria has been truncated mainly due to our over-reliance on oil.

Manufacturing is part of the economic sector in Nigeria that contributes approximately 10 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product each year. The production activity centres on the production of Household goods, Consumer products, Agriculture, Mining, Cement, building materials Chemicals and so on. It is instructive to note that three sectors namely food & beverages, cement, and textile amount for 77% of the manufacturing output generating value in the country.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Manufacturing sector in Nigeria has been performing well in recent years as compared to the past. The Government is beginning to show greater interest and provide more support for local production in order to encourage the growth of local industries.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s economic diversification strategy would rely heavily on the extent to which we harness our local resources to create globally competitive products. It is for this reason that the current administration has put in place a good number of policies and programmes that would encourage local manufacturers and give them confidence in producing for a global market.

Support for local content in Public Procurement by the Federal Government, captured in Executive Order 003, grants preference to local manufacturers in the procurement of goods and services by Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government.

Similarly, granting of a Margin of Preference to domestic contractors through Executive Order 005 will equally promote local content in our science, engineering and technology initiatives. Under its Made in Nigeria Campaign, the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology is harnessing science, technology and innovation to drive national competitiveness, productivity and economic activities in all sectors.

Under the leadership and guidance of President Muhammadu Buhari, local production is being boosted by encouraging local entrepreneurs to take advantage of the various policies geared towards diversifying the economy. Some of these include Executive Order 001 on Ease of Doing Business, review of the Companies and Allied Matters Act as well as the enactment of a Finance Act.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has also placed a ban on granting foreign exchange for the importation of some foreign products, which can be produced locally. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is also granting single-digit interest rate loans to firms operating in the Agriculture and Manufacturing Sectors.

As we are all aware, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a disruption in the global manufacturing and supply chain due to the acute shortage of raw materials and intermediate inputs which some countries around the world including Nigeria are currently experiencing. However, Nigeria was able to take advantage of this disruption and most of the materials needed for the prevention of the virus (nose masks, hand gloves, face shields, hand sanitisers, hand washing equipment) were produced locally.

The intervention of the Federal Government of Nigeria in developing local industries has resulted in a boom in the growth of local businesses. Local production of hitherto imported products is beginning to gain grounds that I make bold to say that the materials produced locally can compare favourably with the imported ones.

Nigerians now proudly use products branded “Made – in – Nigeria”. This development will no doubt attract several benefits to the country including an increase in its Gross Domestic Product, generation of employment opportunities and reduction in the cost of production.

This Made In Nigeria exhibition will help in propagating a new and positive narrative that Nigeria is ready to harness her own resources to become a global player in commerce. The recent development of more than twelve indigenous mobile cell phones by the Model Skills Centre of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments is a testimony to the strides we are making.

Our economic diversification strategy would rely heavily on the extent to which we create globally competitive products. Therefore, we have to take the issue of standards seriously and I implore all our standards regulatory agencies to provide all the necessary guidance to local producers to ensure they meet global standards.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is important I mention that most of the products the country imports are available locally and as we promote local content in our production activities as a nation, it is important that we patronize Made – in – Nigeria products.

A tour of the exhibition stands would reveal an array of products produced locally which can be packaged for export to other countries of the world to tell the Nigerian story of resilience, ingenuity and innovation.

In the present times when some of us have conveniently pretended to forget that the things that bind us are greater than those that separate us, the display of cultural dances across the six geo-political zones will help to showcase our rich cultural heritage as a nation, which we need to preserve.

The neglect of our cultural heritage has contributed in some measure to our loss of values and ethics that are hallmarks of all parts of Nigeria. I am sure that the live performance by local artists, which will feature dance troupes indigenous to each geo-political zone of the country, would help in re-awakening our bond to underscore the need for us to move away from the current undesirable stereotyping and declining love for one another and the country.

Finally, it is important to say that this exhibition is a profound display of the government’s commitment to encouraging Public-Private Sector partnership in the development of our country.

I, therefore, want to commend the efforts of Messrs. Business Visa and Training Company Limited who collaborated with the Sub–Committee in making the event a reality.

As I encourage you to undertake a tour of the exhibition stands and patronize the Made – in – Nigeria products on display, I look forward to significant growth in more local products being utilized by Nigerians.

I wish us all a successful celebration of sixty years of being TOGETHER as a nation while assuring you of the Government’s support to the growth and development of the local industries.

Thank you for your attention and God Bless Nigeria. (Channels TV)

Update news