The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) is paying a closer attention to value chain improvement at its 47th annual general meeting which begins today at Lagos Oriental Hotel.
The three-day AGM encompasses exhibition of made-in-Nigeria products; the 4th Manufacturers Annual Lecture/Presidential Luncheon; road show by Afreximbank; private session by members to review the performance of the association, and an interactive session with the comptroller- general of Nigeria Customs Service.
The theme of the AGM is ‘Improving Value Chain in the manufacturing Sector for Competitiveness and Job Creation’.
Speaking with newsmen in Lagos, Mansur Ahmed, president, MAN, said the theme was borne out of the need to highlight the significance of improved manufacturing value chain linkages in the efforts to make the sector competitive, contribute more to the Gross Domestic Product and create the much-needed jobs in Nigeria.
He said Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s president, will be the special guest of honour, while Benedict Okey Oramah, president and chairman, board of directors of Afreximbank will be the guest speaker.
“The choice of the speaker is based on his pedigree and antecedent of over 25 years in the economic and financial sectors,” Ahmed said.
Ahmed charged Adeniyi Adebayo, newly appointed minister of industry, trade and investment, to formulate a comprehensive industrialisation policy that would drive backward integration programmes and create linkages for various value chains in the manufacturing industry.
He stressed the need for a coherent industrial policy that would drive small and medium enterprises (SME) sector while also scaling up the present administration’s ease of doing business mandate.
“There is a need to link the agriculture sector to the manufacturing sector and also the need to work on some of the constraints that have made the Nigerian manufacturing sector uncompetitive and this has to do with infrastructure,” he said.
“We will work with the ministry to ensure that these issues are addressed and the ease of doing business which is a core objective of the present administration is scaled up considerably,” Ahmed stated.
He said there will be over 100 exhibitors, cutting across 10 sectors of MAN and they would be showcasing the best of made-in-Nigeria products that meet local and international standards.
ODINAKA ANUDU
