The coming electioneering year has compelled the need to bring to the consciousness of Nigeria’s aspiring leaders the importance of a virile manufacturing sector to the nation’s drive for industrialisation drive.
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) made this known at a briefing in Lagos, ahead of its forthcoming 50th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and the second Adeola Odutola Lecture/Presidential Luncheon.
MAN also said with the coming elections, there was the need to put forward the case of being intentional about accelerating the growth and development of the manufacturing sector in their agenda on the economy.
Its President, Mansur Ahmed, said this was why MAN chose the theme of its second Adeola Odutola Lecture/Presidential Luncheon as “An Agenda for Nigeria’s Industrialisation for the Next Decade.”
“This (the theme) was borne out of the need to take stock of the nation’s journey to industrialisation, to ascertain the pains and pain-points; to highlight the performance limiters; recognise the gains and growth milestones; and to identify the learning curves and hurdles ahead.
“All these with a view to crafting a robust agenda for resetting industrialisation, albeit manufacturing in Nigeria,” Mansur explained.
He said while President/Chief Executive, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, will be the Distinguished Guest Speaker at the Lecture scheduled for next week, President Muhammadu Buhari will be the Special Guest of Honour.
Mansur said Dangote would be speaking to a spectrum of distinguished guests from the public and private sectors on the theme.
“You will agree with me that he (Dangote) needs no much introductions because his achievements and success stories in the African industrial landscape speaks volume.”
“He will share his wealth of experience, while offering suggestions on the practical way forward for manufacturing in Nigeria in the next decade,” he said.