The Nation Newspaper

Category: Industry

  • FrieslandCampina WAMCO, society advocate dairy nutrition

    FrieslandCampina WAMCO, in partnership with the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN) has begun an awareness campaign for dairy nutrition in celebration of this year’s World Milk Day on June 1. The theme of this year’s celebration is: “Raise a glass.”

    A statement by the company’s Managing Director, Mr. Ben Langat, said: “The acknowledgement of the importance of milk in the global food system by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) connects with FrieslandCampina WAMCO’s conviction that dairy plays an important role in supplying essential nutrients for daily wellbeing for all stages of life.”

    He emphasised that the company’s mission statement of ‘nourishing Nigerians with quality dairy nutrition’ finds expression in how FrieslandCampina WAMCO is helping to combat non-communicable diseases that are linked to inadequate nutrition and strengthen food security by making milk, one of nature’s most comprehensive nutritional sources, more accessible to Nigerians.

    “We know that solutions to the challenges that surround nutrition, like micronutrient deficiencies, lie in building strong collaborations with key stakeholders and partners. Therefore, to celebrate the World Milk Day this year, we are partnering with the NSN and frontliners in healthcare in Nigeria to drive advocacy to raise the nutritional status of Nigerians through education on the combined benefits of nutrition and daily exercise,” Langat said.

    He assured that the company will continue to enhance the local milk value chain and promote its ‘Grass to Glass’ philosophy through its Dairy Development Programme (DDP).

    “So far, the DDP has supported over 3,500 local dairy farmers (including women) to expand their investment opportunities as the milk collected from the dairy farmers is used in the local manufacturing of Peak evaporated milk,” Langat added.

     

  • ICT firm unveiled

    AN Information Communication Technology (ICT) firm has opened shop in Lagos.

    Its founders,  M. S. Taiwo and Maria Ajanaku, said the firm would provide unified communications solutions, sourcing solutions, marketing and advertisement solutions and security services, such as vehicle and fleet management solution and video surveillance.

    “Matel-Tech Systems came as a result of the rise of professionals building a platform for the new generational establishment connectivity and engagements. So that companies and individuals can collaborate and communicate effectively.

    “Matel-Tech Systems wants to contribute to the effectiveness to the core by developing and buying new technology that most organisation can use to reduce cost and increase their total annual returns. Matel-Tech’s ability to change to latest technology and adapt will bring a lasting development to the economy of Nigeria. Matel-Tech’s dream is to be in the forefront of new technology developments in the world. It was founded by a customer experience analyst who has experiences in customer relationship and management and these made matel-Tech Systems a customer oriented company,” a statement from the firm explained.

    The firm specialises in delivering and setting up unified communication equipment/gadgets for companies.

    “We provide marketing/advertising services by first conducting a good market research analysis and rendering the best solution to help our customers increase their annual capital, we build the best website for our clients. Matel-Tech Systems is also specialised in video surveillance whereby we install and maintain CCTV, vehicle security and fleet management where we can help companies manage their fleet of commercial motor vehicles such as cars, vans, trucks and busses,” the statement added.

    The founders said they were not just building an empire, but also that Matel-Tech would contribute to the development of an effective communication between man and the universe. ‘’We are continually building and refining our network with industry leaders and strive to bring the most recent innovation and advanced technology to our clients,’’ he said.

     

     

     

  • AfDB, GCF partner on ‘Desert-to-Power’ scheme

    The African Development Bank (AfDB), Green Climate Fund (GCF), and the Africa50 investment fund are collaborating to bring solar energy to the Sahel, in support of the priority set by countries in the region.

    The three organisations said they would share ideas and resources about opportunities to make solar power available throughout the region, transforming African deserts into new sources of renewable energy.

    The Desert-to-Power scheme, initiated by the AfDB, aims to develop 10,000megawatts (Mw) of solar energy across the Sahel region. It is intended to provide solar generated electricity to 250 million people, including 90 million through off grid solutions, thereby enabling the development of agriculture and other economic activities.

    GCF Executive Director, Howard Bamsey,  said: “Sahel countries have identified the potential of solar power to bring green energy to people across the region. Renewable energy investment is a priority in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.”

    Bamsey made the comments while signing a letter of intent detailing cooperation on the sidelines of the AfDB’s Annual Meetings,  in the Republic of Korea’s coastal city of Busan.

    AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina  welcomed GCF’s support to the initiative, which he said has the potential – with investment from the private sector – to become the world’s largest solar power zone.

    “The Desert-to-Power scheme will transform countries in the Sahel region by accelerating their access to energy through solar power. To realise this ambition, strong collaboration is needed. Therefore the partnership with the Green Climate Fund and Africa50 is a great milestone and will help us deliver at scale.”

    CEO of Africa50, Alain Ebobissé, said: “Africa50 is about leveraging partnerships to contribute to the continent’s growth through developing and funding high impact private and PPP infrastructure projects. This agreement allows us to leverage our project development capabilities and build a bigger pipeline of bankable projects that will provide millions of people and businesses on the continent with clean and affordable energy.”

    The AfDB is promoting sustainable economic development and social progress throughout its member African countries, thereby contributing to poverty reduction. It has established Africa50 as an investment vehicle to focus on high-impact national and regional projects, mostly in the energy and transport sectors.

    Africa50 is a new investment vehicle established by the AfDB, designed as an independent infrastructure fund that focuses on high-impact national and regional projects, mostly in the energy and transport sectors, with a particular emphasis on increasing the pipeline of investment-ready projects.

  • How value addition can fast-track industrialisation

    Nigeria’s huge size should be an economic advantage. But to the dismay of watchers, less endowed African countries are better off. Its industrial production value dropped by 41 per cent between 2012 and 2018, according to the African Development Bank (AfDB); Morocco’s expanded by 16 per cent and Ethiopia’s fivefold. At this year’s annual meetings of the AfDB Group in Busan, Korea, experts pushed for Nigeria and other African countries to prioritise value addition, among other viable options, to fast-track industrialisation and create jobs, Assistant Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA reports.

    Despite Nigeria’s vast human and natural resources, it lags behind less-endowed African countries in the drive for industrialisation.

    African Development Bank (AfDB) President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina brought this reality home when he said Nigeria’s industrial production value dropped by 41 per cent between 2012 and last year.

    The occasion was the opening ceremony of the 53rd annual meetings of the AfDB Group in Busan, South Korea. The AGMs, which are one of the largest economic gatherings on the continent, had:“Accelerating Africa’s Industrialisation” as its theme.

    The meetings brought together thousands of delegates and participants, Heads of State, public and private sector stakeholders, development partners and people in the academia to reflect on Africa’s industrialisation, one of the bank’s High 5 strategic priorities and an avenue to improve the living conditions of Africans.

    At the meetings during, which the bank organised a series of knowledge events to generate new ideas for developing and financing Africa’s industrialisation, Adesina said between 2012 and this year, Africa’s industrial value add declined from $702 billion to $630 billion, a loss of $72 billion.

    He said among countries with the largest industrial output, industrial value added dropped sharply by 41 per cent in Nigeria, 26 per cent in South Africa, 64 per cent in Egypt and 67 per cent in Algeria. According to him, the loss of industrial production value was responsible for the massive unemployment on the continent.

    Curiously, while Nigeria, despite her potential in terms of population and rich agricultural and mineral endowments, was hit by sharp drop in industrial production value, a few other African countries came up strong. For instance, Morocco’s industrial output expanded in the same period by 16 per cent.

    Adesina said: “Ethiopia also witnessed a fivefold increase in its industrial value added, driven by its heavy investments in industrial parks, special economic zones, and strategic partnerships with Chinese companies for its leather industry, and with global textile and garment companies.”

    However, for Nigeria and indeed, other African countries seeking to fast-track their industrialisation, there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel. For instance, the AfDB, at the meetings, announced that to help reverse the continent’s trend of de-industrialisation, it planned to invest over $35 billion in the continent in the next 10 years.

    Adesina said: “Africa must fast-track industrialisation. That is why the AfDB plans to invest $35 billion over the next 10 years in its focus on industrialisation. The bank’s industrialisation strategy hopes to help Africa raise its industrial Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from a little over $700 billion today to over $1.72 trillion by 2030.

    “This will allow Africa’s GDP to rise to over $5.6 trillion, while moving GDP per capita to over $3,350.”

    This was as the government of South Korea announced at the conclusion of the AfDB Ministerial Meeting in Busan a financial assistance of $5 billion for Africa.

    Korean President Moon Jae-in also said the country was committed to sharing its technological and industrial experience with Africa and to help it compete in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

    While noting that Africa is no longer the sleeping lion, Jae-in said the theme of the Annual Meetings was appropriate for the industrial transformation of the continent, and in facilitating the sharing of experiences with Korea and other partners.

    Understandably, the AfDB’s planned $35 billion investment and South Korea’s financial and technological assistance were music in the ears of African countries particularly Nigeria. For one, the crash in oil price had plunged Nigeria into a debilitating recession, forcing the authorities to turn to industrialisation as a way of diversifying the economy.

    But, of greater importance than the AfDB and South Korea’s heart-warming gestures was the fact that the meetings identified the factors responsible for Nigeria and indeed, Africa’s loss of industrial production value and subsequent long and tortuous road to industrialisation. They also pushed forward a number of robust, strategic options to change the narrative.

     

    Value addition takes centre stage

    For Nigeria to fast-track industrialisation and create jobs, experts say that she must prioritise value addition. Adesina put this in perspective when he said: “The formula for the wealth of nations is clear: rich nations add value to all they produce; poor nations simply export raw materials.

    “Africa needs to industrialise and add value to everything that it produces – from agriculture, to minerals, to oil, gas and metals. Africa needs to move from the bottom to the top of the global value chains.”

    He is right. At present, virtually the basic raw materials to feed the industries in the country are available locally. The snag however, is that they are not available in sufficient quantity and quality. More importantly, most of the available local raw materials are said to be in unusable form, requiring value addition before they can be used by industries.

    The value addition, The Nation learnt, is done mostly by Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) because they are the off-takers, taking the materials from the unusable form to the next intermediate stage. It is the intermediate raw material that industries require for production.

    However, because of the low capacity of the SMEs to add value to available local raw materials, coupled with lack of access to capital to set up processing facilities, process technology and techniques, and spare parts, among others, they have not been able to fill this gap.

    The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has been consistent in its position that local raw materials in their natural forms do not have any value and would not attract any market demand hence, there is need to process them to meet internationally accepted quality and standards for use by manufacturers.

    Most of the local raw materials are being exported and later imported back in the country as finished products with the addition of certain additives at great cost. The Council, therefore, said there is the need to encourage the local supply of raw materials to halt the huge foreign exchange spent on raw materials importation when they can be sourced locally.

    Interestingly, Nigeria’s potential for production of a wide range of raw materials and products has never been in doubt. The country boosts human and natural resource endowments as well as good climatic conditions to support the production of agro-raw materials and products required by industries.

    The country is also blessed with abundant solid mineral deposits awaiting exploitation as well as huge market. This must be why Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) President, Dr Frank Jacobs, has been calling for continued support for resource-based industrialisation programme.

    He explained that resource-based industrialisation involved the utilisation of the country’s abundant natural resources in producing goods needed in the country. “This is a more sustainable and enduring form of industrialisation, compared with the import-dependent industrialisation, which has been practised in Nigeria for long,” Jacobs said, in Lagos.

    The MAN chief, who said it would also save the country a lot of foreign exchange currently used in importing raw materials and free funds for development projects, called for the deepening of the ongoing backward integration efforts in the agric sector to catalyse more industrial input supply from the sector.

    The performance of the manufacturing sector is said to have improved in recent times. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), for instance, put the real GDP growth in the sector in the first quarter of the year at 3.39 per cent (year on year).

    The figure is higher than that of the first quarter of last year, which was 2.03 per cent and the one for the last quarter of the same year, which was 3.26 per cent.

    Jacobs noted that the growth strategies were initiated when the sector’s performance dipped to 2.85 per cent in the third quarter of last year. The sector’s performance dip prompted government to offer the necessary stimulus required for the sector’s survival.

    The sector’s improved performance, according Jacobs, was also driven in part by MAN’s sustained advocacy, resilience and ingenuity to drive economic rebound.

    He, however, said to sustain the positive growth trajectory as enunciated in the 2018 budget that has a growth target of 3.5 per cent, government needed to effectively synthesise monetary and fiscal policies.

    Experts also say the government must address the constraints holding the manufacturing sector and the economy down such as lack of infrastructure, especially electricity supply, weak bureaucratic institutions and corruption, among other factors that impinge on national competitiveness.

    To them, therefore, the AfDB meetings, apart from putting these issues on the front burner, they drew attention to the need to force a paradigm shift from over dependence on imported raw materials and products to local raw materials utilisation and backward integration in areas where Nigeria has comparative and competitive advantages namely, agric and solid minerals.

    The Emir of Kano and former Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Muhammadu Sanusi II, traced Nigeria and Africa’s post-colonial economic woes to fiscal indiscipline and endemic disregard for its competitive advantages. He said this was why development was stunted and the continent’s global trade ties lopsided in favour of offshore trading partners.

    Sanusi, who participated at the AfDB meetings in Busan, pointed out that nine out of every 10 countries in Africa have huge trade deficits with China, for instance. He said Asia developed mostly on domestic investments and resources, noting that this underscored the need for Nigeria and other African governments to invest in and promote creativity and indigenous enterprise.

    The economist and financial risk expert also advocated a series of structural reforms, including strategic investments in key sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, education, and SMEs. He also called for deliberate industrial diversification, noting that China has begun to move its mega-sized manufacturing capabilities out of low-cost industries.

    That was not all. Sanusi also said there was the need to eradicate constitutional provisions and structures that increase the cost of governance at national and sub-national levels, manage demographic growth, and revamp and harmonise moribund and ineffective customs and excise duties that promote cross-border smuggling and revenue losses to governments.

    “Africa’s economic transformation will be best achieved through fast-tracking regional cooperation and the execution of hard-nosed structural reforms that focus on the development of the continent’s human capital and material resources,” the Emir added.

    For the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance, Republic of Korea, Dong Yeon Kim, a new approach was urgently needed, one that encourages innovative industrialisation to translate Africa’s potential into economic prosperity.

    “Industrialisation policy should take into account the unique conditions of each country. New technologies can provide leapfrogging opportunities by speeding up the industrialisation process and creating new value,” he said, noting that smart infrastructure presents a promising area for Korea’s contribution.

    “Smart infrastructure can provide a new solution to Africa’s shortage in roads, airports and harbours. It allows optimal use of resources and can even replace traditional infrastructure.

    “Africa is already producing substantial outcomes in this area. Going forward, Korea is strongly committed to sharing its rich expertise and experience as Africa’s close partner,” Kim said.

  • ‘Why Nigeria missed N2tr agric export market’

    THE value of Nigeria’s agricultural exports would have hit $6.6 billion (about N2 trillion), if she hadn’t failed to sustain the tempo of her agricultural export growth in the 1960s, the Managing Director (MD), Bank of Industry (BoI), Mr. Olukayode Pitan, has said.

    He spoke in Lagos during the second African Food and Products Exhibition organised by the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC).

    The exhibition had as its theme, “Non-oil exports: Scaling up productivity to meet global demand.”

    Pitan said before the discovery of crude oil in commercial quantity, the agric sector contributed about 65 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It was also the major source of revenue and jobs.

    The BoI said though the value of Nigeria’s agric export appreciated at over $470 million (about N170 billion), this was less than nine per cent of its potential. According to him, the potential could have been higher if the high agric export growth rate of the 1960s was sustained.

    He also stressed the need to treat agric more as a business that would create wealth and empower citizens, adding that agri-business remained a viable option to help Nigeria and, indeed, other African nations to diversify their revenue base, reduce imports, create jobs and develop the rural areas.

    Pitan noted that this has become necessary in view of the fact that global food trade increased by over 50 per cent in the last 10 years, adding that agri-business was becoming much stronger and more focused at the international level.

    According to the World Bank, Africa’s agric and agri-business trade is expected to hit $1 trillion by 2030, compared to the current market size of just under $350 billion. This increase, Pitan said, translates to greater prosperity, less hunger and significantly more global trade for Nigeria and African farmers

    Pitan said with agric as one of the six sectors identified for growth in the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), there was need to scale up productivity to help Nigeria become a leading player in both the local and international agric export market.

    The BoI chief maintained that Nigeria was blessed with abundant agricultural resources, fertile soil and an appropriate climate in such a way that the sector would compete favourably in the global agric export market.

    He said: “Going by the agriculture export potential, we have the opportunity to be the leading exporter of rice, maize, corn, shrimps and cocoa, which we have in abundant quantities. Coincidentally, these are some of the most valuable agric products traded globally.

    “It is clear that we have these agric resources and we need to work towards improving the quality and standards of our products not just to match up to global standards, but to surpass them. The major obstacle to achieving this is the lack of access to suitable financing in the sector.”

    On how Nigeria can drive economic diversification and boost productivity in the agric sector, Pitan stressed the need to embark on agricultural industrialisation and implement innovative financing models that would cater for the needs of both low-income farmers and high-income processors.

    While insisting that there is the need to start looking critically at the whole agric value chain, he said several initiatives had been introduced to boost the agri-business sector of the economy including the Agriculture Promotion Policy (The Green Alternative).

    The policy, according to Pitan, was aimed at stimulating effective and sustained economic growth through increased agricultural productivity, food security, production of raw materials and increased foreign exchange earnings through the export of agric produce.

    He restated the government’s commitment to revitalising and diversifying the economy by implementing the ERGP.

    “We must establish an economy driven by the private sector and enabled by the government doing its part by way of creating the enabling environment,” Pitan said.

    He said to this end, BoI will continue to encourage private sector investments in large-scale food and agro-processing and manufacturing across rural areas, while deploying public funds towards developing integrated rural infrastructure such as transportation networks, power and irrigation.

    Pitan said such interventions had become necessary considering the World Bank’s prediction that the Nigerian population would rise to 391 million in 2050, while the world population would reach nine billion during the same period.

    Pitan stressed urgent need for Nigeria to proactively improve agricultural processes, productivity, quality and output, adding that about 65 per cent of the world’s remaining arable land rested on Nigeria’s shores.

    He therefore challenged the young generation to take up active roles in the agric sector. He also appealed to financial institutions to provide affordable and innovative financing for various players along the nation’s agric value chain.

    NACC National President Olabintan Famutimi said the food and products exhibition would promote the development of trade, commerce, and capacity of indigenous businesses. He said the forum attracted over 2,000 attendees  across Nigeria, including exhibitors who showcased their products and services.

    Famutimi said the chamber would continue to remind all stakeholders of the need to promote the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and apply international best practices and other relevant frameworks in their operations.

    He pledged the commitment of the chamber to the full implementation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

  • Free trade deal: African ministers back AfCFTA

    Despite opposition by Nigeria’s private sector operators against the proposed African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, the framework document has got the strong commitment and support of finance ministers and policy makers from across the continent.

    At the close of a high-level meeting where real issues affecting the continent were discussed, the finance ministers and policy makers reaffirmed their commitment to AfCFTA.

    The proposed free trade deal seeks to bring together 55 African countries with a combined population of more than 1.2 billion people, including a growing middle class and a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of about $3.4 trillion.

    At the meeting, which was hosted by the United Nation’s Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the week, the ministers and policy makers called on governments to ensure that they make the policies and investments necessary to capture the economic benefits of the proposed trading bloc.

    A ministerial statement from the 51st session of the Council of Ministers recognised the potential of the AfCFTA to advance industrialisation, economic diversification and development to foster prosperity for all on the continent.

    It, however, recognised the challenges including concerns over the impact upon the tax base arising from a single continental market for goods and services.

    “The short-term impact is likely to be minimal and will be outweighed in the medium and long term by the positive impacts of revenue from other sources of taxes.

    “These new sources would arise from economic growth and diversification from trading in a bloc of 1.2 billion consumers,” the statement said.

    The meeting also acknowledged the need for the bloc to advance trade facilitation measures, which include simplified trade regimes for informal cross-border traders and upgrading trans-boundary infrastructure to assist firms keen to penetrate the new markets opened up by the agreement.

    In throwing its weight behind the proposed agreement, the Council of Ministers recognised the private sector as playing the central role in achieving this project to create a more empowered, inclusive and transformed continent.

    It was agreed that it would be essential for businesses to partner governments to develop innovative financing solutions to tackle health, education, infrastructure and environmental challenges that can hold back Africa from effectively operating and benefitting from the bold economic plan.

    The statement came after four days of dialogue and robust exchange on the theme: “African Continental Free Trade Area: Creating Fiscal Space for Jobs and Economic Diversification”.

  • Star Lager thrills Uyo football fans

    Nigeria’s premium beer brand and the official beer partner of the Super Eagles, Star Lager Beer, on Tuesday, thrilled fans with an unforgettable football and music spectacle at the Star Fan Park in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

    This was as the Super Eagles of Nigeria battled Spanish Football Club, Atletico Madrid FC in an international friendly game.

    Thousands of excited Super Eagles fans in Uyo thronged the Godswill Akpabio Stadium to watch the National Team take on the newly-crowned Champions of the UEFA Europa League.

    Designed to bring excitement, energy and entertainment to Nigerian football match venues, Star Fan Park fuses music and football, offering great live performances and special appearances from Nigeria’s biggest music stars at different venues around the country, including DJ Neptune and DJ Big N who went head to head in a friendly match-up at the Uyo venue.

    As MC Laugh Up entertained the audience with his witty jokes and football banter, fans participated in exciting Star-themed games and a raffle draw, with the winners awarded instant prizes, including refrigerators, generator sets and flat screen television sets among others.

    Speaking, the Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Franco Maria Maggi, said: “We take pride in delivering highly engaging and memorable moments to our consumers nationwide, and we are determined to keep upgrading football viewing experiences for Nigerian fans.

    “We have a few more exciting activities lined up for fans in the coming weeks through our ‘Nigeria United We Shine’ campaign, and we are truly delighted to be part of this national support for the Super Eagles and Nigerian football in general.”

    The Portfolio Manager, National Premium, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Yinka Bakare, said, “Star Lager Beer is a consumer-focused brand, and a listening brand. We know how passionate Nigerians are about good football and we are proud to be involved with this friendly match, being a major one for all Nigerians as our partners, the NFF and the Super Eagles prepare for Russia.”

    As official beer of the Nigerian national football team, Star Lager provided the ultimate Star experience with two luxury buses to convey the Super Eagles throughout their stay in the Akwa Ibom state capital.

    The iconic Nigerian brand and product of Nigerian Breweries Plc, which is a Heineken International Company, has enjoyed decades of success since its launch as the first indigenous Nigerian beer brand in 1949.

    Reiterating the essence of the multi-million naira partnership with the Nigerian Football Federation and the Super Eagles, Star Lager Beer promises to continue bringing unique and exciting experiences to passionate football fans in Nigeria.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • ICT firm unveiled

    A Telecommunications and Information Technology (ICT) company has opened in Lagos.

    According to its founders,  M. S.Taiwo Maria Ajanaku, the daughter of the former Deputy General Manager of NITEL Plc., M. A. Ajanaku, the firm will provide unified communications solutions, sourcing solutions, marketing and advertisement solutions and security services, such as vehicle and fleet management solution and video surveillance.

    In a statement, they said: ‘’Matel-Tech Systems came as result of the rise of professionals building a platform for the new generational establishment connectivity and engagements. So that companies and individuals can collaborate and communicate effectively. Matel-Tech Systems wants to contribute to the effectiveness to the core by developing and buying new technology that most organisation can use to reduce cost and increase their total annual ROI. Matel-Tech’s ability to change to latest technology and adapt will bring a lasting development to the economy of Nigeria. Matel-Tech’s dream is to be in the forefront of new technology developments in the world. Matel-Tech Systems was founded by a customer experience analyst who has experiences in customer relationship and management and these made matel-Tech Systems a customer oriented company.’’

    They continued: ‘’Matel-Tech Systems is specialised in delivering and setting up unified communication equipment/gadgets for companies. We provide marketing/advertising services by first conducting a good market research analysis and rendering the best solution to help our customers increase their annual capital, we build the best website for our clients. Matel-Tech Systems is also specialised in video surveillance whereby we install and maintain CCTV, vehicle security and fleet management where we can help companies manage their fleet of commercial motor vehicles such as cars, vans, trucks and busses.

    The founders said they were not just building an empire, but also that Matel-Tech would contribute to the development of an effective communication between man and the universe. ‘’We are continually building and refining our network with industry leaders and strive to bring the most recent innovation and advanced technology to our clients,’’ he said.

    “We have a seasoned professional team of engineers and unified communications technology professionals working within our company,’’ he added.

     

  • Bilateral agreements not Nigeria’s devt, says FBN chairman

    FIRST Bank of Nigeria Chairman, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika has taken a swipe at the various bilateral agreements signed by Nigeria, which have encouraged foreign investors to dump untrained manpower on Nigeria from their country. Many of the agreements, she said, do not encourage local sector development of the nation’s economy.

    She said many of such bilateral agreements encourage foreign investors to come with large number of their countrymen as workers, adding that the gains from such investments are not allowed to stay within the country, but exported.

    Mrs Awosika also took a swipe at the nation’s educational system, which she said, needs to be adjusted to train the manpower needed by the real sector of the economy as graduates being trained in the country are not needed by the real sector of the economy.

    Delivering a lecture entitled: “Productivity for Economic Recovery and sustainable growth”, at the 2018 National Productivity Day celebration and the conferment of National Productivity Order of Merit award, Mrs Awosika said it is unacceptable that such signed agreements allow certain companies to come into the country with large manpower without any plan to develop the local scene in the interest of the country.

    She said: “As a country, I don’t think we have problem encouraging foreign investment coming into Nigeria or encouraging foreigners investing in various sectors of Nigeria. However, for a lot of these bilateral agreements that we sign, we actually need to be more deliberate and more selfish in terms of what we seek to achieve as a nation.

    “I think it is unacceptable, a situation where we sign up agreement that allow certain companies to come into areas where we want to develop or grow as a country, but that we have no human capacity development plan for those sectors.

    “In those cases, we then have those companies coming into Nigeria with a large portion of their manpower as well. In that case, the work and the knowledge will not be shared and will not be left behind. Our people will not be developed and the economic impact of the value created in that process are going to be exported and will not remain as much as we would like it to within our own economy,”she said.

    She continued:“Since the knowledge is not gained by our citizens, they cannot on their own try to develop or contribute to the development of that sector. You can always have bilateral agreements and bring in players and foreign partners, but always have the medium and long term plans to create local players.

    “In the past, the large players in the oil industry were foreigners. But at a point, Nigeria took a deliberate decision to withdraw the marginal field from the big players and to encourage local players who have developed some skills in the oil and gas sector to become players in that sector and that eventually led to Nigerian oil and gas companies of capacity emerging.

    “It empowered more Nigerians to be drawn into those sectors, it allowed the earnings to be retained in Nigeria without being exported to other areas to sustain productivity. We only need to make certain few adjustments. We already know all the things that we need to do and these are in government archives.”

    She further said there was the need to equip a large portion of the nation’s population represented by the female gender to deploy their talent for the benefit of the nation. In everywhere they have been encouraged to contribute, there has always been sustained growth because women are builders of community and society.

    She was, however, particular about building a crop of young Nigerian graduates with the required skill to contribute positively to the development of the country, pointing out that it was rather unfortunate that the nation was producing graduates that are not needed by employers of labour.

    She said: “Our educational system needs to be adjusted in other to support the productivity need of the country. We are producing unneeded graduates. We are producing people, who have certificates, but don’t have the skills that the real sector needs.

    “Therefore, when you speak a lot of employers of labour, especially those in the real sector, you find that you have many with degrees around you, but don’t have what the real sector needs.

    “There is no harmonisation with our industrial growth and plan in terms of the manpower that we need over a period of time and tie our educational system to develop capacity in those areas, so that we have the needed manpower for the area of growth within the economy.

    “We have the national economic plan for 2017 to 2020. There are certain areas of that plan that we have identified as key to the economic growth that we want to achieve for the next few years.

    “The key to it is, what are those factors that will make those plans achievable? Where are the missing gaps, what kind of short and medium terms plans support our ability to grow because 2017 to 2020 is a short term and we are already into the second year of the plan? We need quick executable plans that will help you to move certain part of the nation into another part where they are needed.”

     

  • Reviving ceramics industry to buoy economy

    How can Nigeria benefit from the global ceramics market projected to hit $59.17 billion in 2020? This is what industry watchers are troubled about amid the poor showing of the four local ceramics manufacturing firms. The experts are pushing for a local ceramics policy, establishment of ceramics clusters, and strong global partnership, among others, to revive the industry. Assistant Editor OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE, reports..

    It’s a sad paradox. Nigeria can boast of bountiful mineral resources that can support a vibrant ceramics industry capable of helping its transition to a non-oil economy. But the country still projects ceramics products’ importation to gulp $800 million, about N287.7 billion, this year, up from $600 million (N215 billion) in 2014.

    As if this is not bad enough, the country is looking to double its ceramics imports to $2.1 billion, about N755 billion, by 2025, driven by rising domestic consumption, particularly in real estate market.

    The global construction industry is said to be growing rapidly with a major contribution from emerging countries, including Nigeria, where urbanisation is expected to drive market demand for ceramic tiles over the forecast period.

    For instance, in 2016, revenue generated by the global construction industry reached approximately $8.82 trillion, from $7.91 trillion in 2012. This is expected to reach approximately $14.98 trillion by 2025.

    The emerging countries accounted for 51.9 per cent of total contribution in the construction  industry in 2016, and are estimated to contribute approximately 62.5 per cent by 2025. The governments of these regions are investing significantly in residential homes, owing to rapid urbanisation.

    A former Deputy Director in charge of Solid Minerals, Ceramics and Electroplating Technologies at the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), Mr. Patrick Sonny Irabor, said a huge opportunity in ceramics business awaits Nigeria, saying  that about 85 per cent of the raw materials that would be needed could be obtained locally.

    The CEO, Epina Technologies Limited, Professor Patrick Oaikhinan, agreed, saying that apart from Nigeria’s real estate market that has created a huge demand for ceramic tiles, demand from semi-urban and rural areas is also expected to rise in the coming years.

    He however regretted that despite its resource endowment and strong demand, Nigeria does not have a vibrant ceramics export market to claim its share of the global market for ceramic products projected to reach $59.17 billion by 2020.

    Oaikhinan said Nigeria occupies eighth position among the top 18 emerging economies for ceramics trade. Unfortunately, Nigeria is the only country that does not export  ceramics, in spite of the enormous solid mineral resources embidde in its soil.

    While stressing that the ceramics industry has the capacity to stimulate industrialisation, diversify the economy and create jobs, he said the industry is currently gasping for breath, requiring deliberate and strategic policy push to revive it.

    Indeed, it has been a tale of woes for the local ceramics industry. The Nation learnt that the industry’s fortunes, which hitherto enjoyed a boom before the 1980s, have since nose-dived.

    Then, ceramic companies such as Richware Ceramics (Lagos), Modern Ceramics (Umuahia), Nigergrob Ceramics (Abeokuta), Ceramic Manufacturer (Kano), and Quality Ceramics (Shagamu) held sway. Today, many of them have fizzled out from the industrial landscape.

    Out of  21 ceramics companies spread across the country, over 15 of them are moribund. Oaikhinan put the industry’s grim prospects in perspective when he told The Nation that only four local ceramic manufacturing firms are in operation, producing mainly tiles and sanitary wares.

    The few struggling firms, he added, are producing below installed capacity, because of shortage of professionals with generic and technical skills in ceramics manufacturing business coupled with dearth of infrastructure, particularly electricity supply.

    Oaikhinan also said the industry was hit by the absence of avenues for people interested in ceramic manufacturing business to pursue their ambitions, absence of training programmes in ceramic science, engineering, and technology in the universities and polytechnics.

    It also lacked knowledge of the chemical and mineralogical compositions, physical and mechanical properties of available local mineral resource, besides the non-existence of raw material processing plants to feed the local ceramic industries.

     

    Options for reviving

    the industry

    According to experts, the ceramics industry has the capacity to stimulate the nation’s industrial development, which will in turn, drive on-going economic diversification and create jobs. The sector is credited with the capacity to change the nation’s economic trajectory by providing over five million direct and indirect employment opportunities.

    This has prompted experts to come up with a number of policy options that could put the the industry back on track. Some of them include passing a law to set up a National Centre for Ceramics Entrepreneurship and the  inclusion of ceramic courses in the nation’s educational development policy.

    They also suggested that addressing the absence of government policy for local ceramics training and manufacturing business has become imperative, as well as the need for strong global partnership that enhances financial and technological cooperation amongst operators in the industry.

    Oaikhinan, who is Nigeria’s first professor of Ceramics Technology, said, for instance, that the passage of a law setting up a National Centre for Ceramics Entrepreneurship by the National Assembly will strengthen ceramic entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

    He explained that his idea of ceramics entrepreneurship, particularly involves the growth of local ceramic clusters or businesses in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria that will be driven by people and profit.

    “When we build ceramics clusters in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria, that’s when real change will happen in our youths empowerment, poverty reduction and quest for technological changes in local industries.

    “It is an effective and inclusive path to achieving sustained and inclusive economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all,” he told The Nation.

    While noting that Epina Technologies is the only company in Nigeria offering a full suite of services to support domestic ceramic entrepreneurs, he said the ceramics entrepreneurship model has seen communities in other nations create millions of new jobs, support thousands of existing jobs, and grow revenues by more than 100 per cent.

    “We believe the Nigerian economy will grow along this model,” he said, adding that entrepreneurial ceramic businesses can bring the much-needed streams of income, fresh opportunities and valuable services to the communities around them.

    Strong global partnership and collaboration are no less appealing strategies to reposition the sector. Oaikhinan was emphatic: “We certainly will not achieve our goals without a strong global partnership that enhances financial and technological co-operation.

    “We need leaders from business, civil society and politics, both from within and outside Nigeria, to engage and work together in local ceramics development. We have the resources. Now, we must make the best use of them.”

    He said there is need for more innovative, scalable solutions and stronger collaboration in the ceramics sector, not just in terms of unique technologies, infrastructure, but unique funding models, business models and resource collaboration platforms.

    Govt policy on ceramics

    Experts’ consensus is that if the right conditions for addressing the absence of government policy for ceramics are built, Nigeria will be on the path to achieving development in the ceramics industry and indeed, virtually all the sectors of its economy.

    For a start, operators have advised the National University Commission (NUC) to include ceramic courses in the nation’s educational development policy, adding that this policy option will give fillip to the nation’s quest to boost non oil economy.

    Besides, the government, they noted, must invest in the sector, considering that it is a huge employer of labour. According to experts, curbing the high unemployment rate in the country and the attendant social vices require government at all levels to buy-into-the ceramic sector.

    The belief is that increased investment and governments at all levels’ involvement will be in the area of electronic (e-learning), which involves the adoption of online platform to deliver ceramics training programmes. The thinking is that using an online resource is a viable means to reach more entrepreneurs rather than being restricted to limited face-to-face places.

    “It also means we can offer a comprehensive mix of on demand services that entrepreneurs can access at different times along their entrepreneurial journey,” Oaikhinan said, adding that mentoring will be opened to graduates of the programme.

    “It will use the online platform to match each person with the best possible mentor to enable him or her develop and grow his or her business. Through technology, we will be able to provide critical training and make smart mentorship matches,” the expert stated.

    He also said it will help a great deal if businesses and the society adopt more sustainable patterns of ceramics production and consumption, emphasising, however, that none of these will make any sense if the government fails to have a developmental policy for local ceramics training and manufacturing business.

    “All the challenges we face today in the industry demand big changes in the way we see ceramics sector in Nigeria. The required transformation of course, cannot be promoted by a single expert in the field or a private organisation, and if we really want a more sustainable domestic ceramics production, we all need to engage and work in partnership, Oaikhinan said

     

    Private sector weighs in

    As part of a private-sector led push to reposition the ceramics industry, a Ceramics Professionals Association of Nigeria (CERAPAN) has since been registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

    The body, The Nation learnt, focuses on empowering entrepreneurs to launch and grow their ceramic businesses and in turn, affect the communities around them.

    The thinking was that while entrepreneurs in the ceramics business may have the vision and tenacity, they often lack access to business skills, networks, mentors and role models to scale their businesses hence, the setting up of CERAPAN to bridge that gap.

    The Epina Technologies CEO said the government and business entrepreneurs need to collaborate with the Association to support early stage ventures to strengthen their business model, market approach and financing plan.

    The collaboration, he added, is necessary in order to provide support and training to high-potential social entrepreneurs to scale their ceramics manufacturing businesses.

    More especially, experts said Nigeria’s quest for diversification and capital inflow from the non-oil sector can be realised if she taps into the huge potential in ceramics manufacturing.

    Irabor stressed that ceramics manufacturing will encourage reactivation of dead factories, establishment of new ones as well as improve the exploration and appropriate utilisation of the abundant natural solid mineral resources.

    He also stressed that it would create industrial activities, generate employment and empower Nigerians economically. It will also reduce the huge import dependence of ceramic products.

    “The development and investment in this non-metallic solid mineral-based sector would go towards the much talked-about diversification of the mono-oil economy,” he added.