MAN to increase output of manufacturing sector, its GDP contributions to 20% by 2030
By Omolola Dede Adeyanju
The newly appointed President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Otunba Francis Meshioye has revealed his agenda for his tenure as President of the association. According to him, ‘with the support of the Secretariat, the Association will reinvigorate its advocacy focus on the following mandates:To Improve evidence-based advocacy through proactive engagement with legislators, policymakers, regulators, and other stakeholders; Increase the output of the manufacturing sector and its contribution to GDP to 20 per cent by 2030; Increase export of Nigerian manufactured products to other African Countries and beyond; Promote manufacturing sector employment through capacity building, new technologies, and professional advisory services; Promote inclusive inter-industry linkage between SMIs and large corporations by encouraging the development of industry value chains, industrial parks, and collaboration with academia.
Also to, “Extend MAN’s advocacy outreach at regional and continental levels through robust membership in and collaboration with relevant institutions; Drive MAN’s effectiveness through continuous improvement of human resources, technology enablement, corporate governance, and financial viability;Improve the quality of membership services by promoting a more conducive operating environment, improving the availability of public services, access to finance, providing information to members, and promoting patronage of made-in-Nigeria products; andEnsure effective and timely dissemination of MAN’s views and positions to all arms of government, members, and the public through print, social and electronic media.”
The President who served as the association’s Chairman, Ikeja branch before his appointment as the 11th President of the association at the association’s 50th AGM in the previous year, declared his agenda in his address during the seventh edition of the MAN REPORTER OF THE YEAR AWARD/PRESIDENTIAL MEDIA LUNCHEON yesterday.
He noted the theme for the 50th AGM, “An Agenda for Nigeria’s Industrialisation for the Next Decade” and expressed that it has become the bedrock for the Association’s advocacy direction for the coming years.”
He said, “MAN is also being strategic in its engagement during this electioneering year to place its issues on the front burner. We have engaged the Presidential aspirants on the importance of having a virile and competitive manufacturing sector. We have equally pushed at different fora with major political contenders to incorporate the need to accelerate the growth and development of the manufacturing sector in their economic agenda. In this regard, we have availed all the political parties with our Blueprint for the Accelerated Development of Manufacturing in Nigeria as well as the agenda for manufacturing in Nigeria for the next 10 year to members, and the public through print, social and electronic media.”
The President made a closing remark of appreciation to media partners who equally gave the Association wide coverage and in-depth reportage.
He added, “This year, we have undertaken some restructuring within the system to ensure that we work more closely with you, our partners. We shall undertake more innovative and more strategic advocacy mechanisms that will scale-up the manufacturing sector’s performance and its contribution to the economy.
Touching the current perturbing issues of the country, the Director General of the association, Segun Ajayi-Kadiri, mni, enumerated the issues of currency crisis facing the country presently.
He said, “I don’t see the currency crisis persisting for too long because it’s evident to government that people must have access to what they own. However it should not be prolonged. We were told the currency are available. I think the CBN have poor logistics arrangements. The synergy that CBN should be having with Money deposit banks is not enforced. By now we should be having a seamless flow of currency. Banditory, election process and nefarious activities that huge cash facilitate should not be allowed, this is the major reason for CBN’s decisions but there are other measures and excellent advices given so CBN just need to take these into consideration to ensure this unnecessary hardship ends. CBN’s agreement for the old and new cash to co-exist is a good thing.”
In view of Nigeria losing foreign investors to the unavailability of means to trade, the DG added, “I have always preferred that we rely on domestic investors. If foreigners come to our land, they will speak to Nigerians doing businesses already. If there is prosperity in our domestic or local economy, investors will come naturally. Our concentration should be on local manufacturers than foreign investors for us to expand our economy.”
Projecting for a difference in reports on foreign exchange this year compared to previous years, the DG noted that the report is not going to be different from what we have experienced.
“We need to take away the binding constraints that limit the growth of Manufacturing, and strategize to incentivize manufacturers. This is what government has not done. Manufacturing is a deliberate effort from government all over the world. In the midst of these we have policies of government and agencies being created. The funding of these agencies are taken from the profits of the manufacturing industry, this is chaotic. Yet we see economy around us perfecting their games. With AfCFTA we can’t get our borders closed. We can’t have unproductive or uncompetitive manufacturing sector and expect that goods won’t be imported, these goods come in to unfairly compete with locally made product despite the hardship in production in the country. There are energy crisis, price of diesel has gone up, we are having brain drain. The community we operate in are also putting pressure on us as manufacturer.
“With these, there won’t be improvement in foreign exchange, except we produce what we import, we can’t pop up our gross domestic product. Our engagements to government is that we can’t have an improved forex if we don’t produce what we import. If our naira keeps pursuing products outside Nigeria there can’t be improvement, we will need dollar to purchase goods outside Nigeria not naira, until we reverse the trend. We do not need CBN and those managing our money should have more concern for this.”
Awards were presented to media persons of various platforms according to the association’s measures for accessment.
