Expo 2022: Over 1,500 made-in-Nigeria products on display – NBTI

The National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), says more than 1,500 made-in-Nigeria products and innovations are on display at the ongoing Technology Expo 2022.

NBTI explained that the products were by entrepreneurs who came from different technology incubation centres (TIC) across Nigeria.

The Overseeing Director-General, Mr. Akinwumi Shomefun, said this during an interview with Newsmen, on Thursday in Abuja.

“There are over 1, 500 products on display here, ranging from consumables, spices, beauty products, electrical products, fashion products, leather products, herbal mixtures, are among several products on display in this exhibition.

The products and innovations were designed and developed by entrepreneurs whom we trained in our Technology Incubation Centres (TIC) across Nigeria.

The director-general urged Nigerians to promote and patronise made-in Nigeria products, in order to advance industrialisation and develop the country’s economy.

Shomefun said that one key area where the board was driving technology advancement was in local and community engagements via its TICs, as evidenced by its participation at the Expo.

“Through community engagements, we run inclusive and rural programmes. We also mobilise local raw materials for the production of value added and value driven products’’, he said.

Some of the entrepreneurs present at the EXPO lauded the government for giving them such a huge platform to network, meet with key industry players and investors.

Aisha Bindawa, Chief Executive Officer of CCB mart, and one of the exhibitors, commended the Federal Government for organising the EXPO, adding that her company had gained a lot.

Bindawa also called for more nationwide publicity for future EXPO’s in other to create more public awareness.

According to the Kaduna-based beauty products and jewellery producer, the company uses indigenous raw materials for its finished products.

“All the raw materials I use for my beauty products are sourced locally, it is 100 per cent made in Nigeria, I also source for local gemstones for my jewelleries,” she said.

Abida Rabo, of Zholkha Global Resources, specialists in production of tea, perfumes and condiments, using natural resources, said her herbal tea helped in indigestion, detoxification and contained vitamins that helped to boost immunity and fight diseases.

She commended organisers of the EXPO, and called on Nigerians to patronise locally produced edibles while prioritising their health.

Bridget Akor, a representative of Caap Cooperative Society, said the cooperative was formed to support the Federal Government in alleviating poverty using two edible products with great health benefits.

Akor, while calling for more investors to expand production, said that the products, CaapVita and Soyadip were produced to improve Nigerians’ health.

Another entrepreneur from TIC Kaduna, Nafisa Nasir, who is into food processing such as bean flour, made in Nigeria green tea, dates syrup and others, encouraged Nigerians to consume local goods.

She called for patronage of Nigerian made foods for its high nutritional value.

Nasir also urged government to continue to support in providing working tools to fast track production, this would lead to reduction in unemployment among youths.

The commercial officer of TIC, Katsina and founder of Tomatrix Nigeria Enterprises, Mr Lawal Bello, said Nigeria is blessed with abundance of raw materials.

Bello, whose company produces tomato paste, said with good government policies and support, made-in Nigeria products would compete favourably with imported ones.