At the 11th Annual General Meeting of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Kwara/Kogi Branch, held at De Peace Hotel, Ilorin, the Kwara State Government called for decisive action to propel Nigeria’s industrial revolution.
Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi, represented by Special Duties Commissioner John Bello Alabi, highlighted Nigeria’s critical need to move from promise to production. Warning against over-reliance on oil and imports, he stressed that “Nigeria must industrialize as a matter of economic survival and national dignity.”
He lauded local manufacturers—from rice mills in Patigi to ceramics in Lokoja and footwear in Ilorin—urging state and federal bodies to support scalable, sustainable production. He emphasized: “Let us not industrialize in theory alone, but in practice…in containers carrying Nigerian goods beyond our borders.”
Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Mamman Jibril Shaaba, represented by Funmilayo Ajide, underlined the importance of attracting foreign investment to spur technology transfer, job creation, and youth employment. He called for reduced reliance on oil exports, stronger SME support, streamlined regulations, and environmentally responsible industrial practices.
Business, Innovation and Technology Commissioner Damilola Adelodun praised the meeting’s theme—“Industrial Revolution of Nigeria: Obligation and Opportunity for Government and Local Manufacturers”—as timely. She spotlighted state initiatives including the Kwara Innovation Hub, Kwara Garment Factory, and the Eiyenkorin Industrial Park, which will host a CNG plant and export processing zone. Adelodun also announced state sponsorship of manufacturers to the 4th Intra-Africa Trade Fair in Algeria to promote Kwara-made products continentally.
Planning and Economic Development Commissioner Mary Arinde emphasised government investments in energy, infrastructure, and industrial clusters that support manufacturers and job creation. Transport Commissioner Lafia Aliyu Korasabi noted improvements in roads and logistics—essential for supporting industrial growth.
MAN Kwara/Kogi chairman and Dele Groups CEO Mubaraq Damilola Shittu commended the governors of Kwara and Kogi for their support. He outlined the branch’s gains: increased membership, vocational training partnerships, and agency collaborations. However, he warned that rising energy costs, foreign exchange pressure, and high taxes threaten growth, and urged urgent policy responses, improved credit access, and passage of the Manufacturing Protection Bill.
The meeting concluded with a renewed resolve among government and industry leaders to foster a competitive, diversified, and production-driven economy.
