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MAN laments Nigerians’ preference for imported products
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Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) president, Bashir Borodo, has decried the penchant of Nigerians for imported products, saying it has made the nation dependent on the industrialised nations for basic needs.
“It is a matter of regret that in spite of the high potentials of Nigeria’s economy, most business initiatives are still largely concentrated in commerce and services. As a people, we have been slow to embrace manufacturing which is the engine of growth in all dynamic economies,” Borodo said at a dinner in honour of United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) director-general, Kandeh Yumkella in Lagos recently.
He regretted that the prevailing environment made it easier and more profitable to become a local agent or distributor to overseas manufacturers, even as this leads to gross under-utilisation of the country’s human, natural and material resources.
The MAN president stressed that “unless we address this lacuna in our economic development, our country may remain a dumping ground for the products of the technologically advanced economies.”
He noted the need for a new culture of policy support that would fire a new spirit of investment in the manufacturing sector. This is where, according to Borodo, the co-operation of international development organisations such as UNIDO is needed.
“We acknowledge with appreciation, the continuing guide of UNIDO to Nigeria in the areas of support to our industrial vision. However, it is not out of place to ask for more interventions, particularly in the areas of human capital development and exposure of industries to best practices that would empower our industries to match global competition.”
Appreciation UNIDO for the excellent work” in respect of the report on West Africa Industrial Restructuring and Upgrading Programme, the industrialist noted that the mission of the programme was to provide a good opportunity to breathe new life into many industries that are troubled in the region, particularly in Nigeria.
Considering the leading position of Nigeria as the industrial hub of West Africa, Borodo made a case for a peculiar programme for Nigeria.
In his remarks, the UNIDO boss indicated that Nigeria was at cross roads, with every country eager to do business with it. He urged the country to use the opportunity to develop its economy.
“It is better today than before, when l was here. Today, oil sells for over $100 per barrel. Nigeria is the microcosm of the Garden of Eden. You have fertile land, mineral resources and a good population.”
Yumkella said Nigeria should diversify her economy else there will be crisis. “I have no doubt in my mind that industrialization is the answer. Like the Chinese and Indians, Nigerians have the will power to develop their economy.”
Illustrating how nations set goals for themselves, he made allusions to China and the West.While China uses monuments to show the next generation where they want to be in say 30 years, the West uses monuments to show their greatness in the past.
“Ambition is critical if we are going to change industry,” the former UNIDO country representative in Nigeria said, adding: “Nigeria is now liquid, not a poor country. But you have to do what Indians and Chinese did, to use their resources to develop their nation.”
“It is a matter of regret that in spite of the high potentials of Nigeria’s economy, most business initiatives are still largely concentrated in commerce and services. As a people, we have been slow to embrace manufacturing which is the engine of growth in all dynamic economies,” Borodo said at a dinner in honour of United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) director-general, Kandeh Yumkella in Lagos recently.
He regretted that the prevailing environment made it easier and more profitable to become a local agent or distributor to overseas manufacturers, even as this leads to gross under-utilisation of the country’s human, natural and material resources.
The MAN president stressed that “unless we address this lacuna in our economic development, our country may remain a dumping ground for the products of the technologically advanced economies.”
He noted the need for a new culture of policy support that would fire a new spirit of investment in the manufacturing sector. This is where, according to Borodo, the co-operation of international development organisations such as UNIDO is needed.
“We acknowledge with appreciation, the continuing guide of UNIDO to Nigeria in the areas of support to our industrial vision. However, it is not out of place to ask for more interventions, particularly in the areas of human capital development and exposure of industries to best practices that would empower our industries to match global competition.”
Appreciation UNIDO for the excellent work” in respect of the report on West Africa Industrial Restructuring and Upgrading Programme, the industrialist noted that the mission of the programme was to provide a good opportunity to breathe new life into many industries that are troubled in the region, particularly in Nigeria.
Considering the leading position of Nigeria as the industrial hub of West Africa, Borodo made a case for a peculiar programme for Nigeria.
In his remarks, the UNIDO boss indicated that Nigeria was at cross roads, with every country eager to do business with it. He urged the country to use the opportunity to develop its economy.
“It is better today than before, when l was here. Today, oil sells for over $100 per barrel. Nigeria is the microcosm of the Garden of Eden. You have fertile land, mineral resources and a good population.”
Yumkella said Nigeria should diversify her economy else there will be crisis. “I have no doubt in my mind that industrialization is the answer. Like the Chinese and Indians, Nigerians have the will power to develop their economy.”
Illustrating how nations set goals for themselves, he made allusions to China and the West.While China uses monuments to show the next generation where they want to be in say 30 years, the West uses monuments to show their greatness in the past.
“Ambition is critical if we are going to change industry,” the former UNIDO country representative in Nigeria said, adding: “Nigeria is now liquid, not a poor country. But you have to do what Indians and Chinese did, to use their resources to develop their nation.”
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