The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has expressed strong beliefs that the future of manufacturing will become brighter in the days ahead.
The Chairman the Cross River/Akwa Ibom Branch of MAN, Akin Oyediran, said for that to happen, the federal and state governments must create conditions conducive for local manufacturing as well as deliberately patronising them.
Oyediran stated this during the association’s 16 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Public Lecture on weekend in Calabar, with the theme, “Sustaining Local Production in a Challenging and Competitive Economy; The manufacturer’s Perspective.”
He said: “MAN came up with an initiative where a power system is constructed in a factory without the owners of the factories going to the banks to seek loans. When this system is installed, the factory owner pays for usage gradually and after 15 years, he owns the system, meanwhile, he no longer has anything to do with diesel or the power holding companies.”
Oyediran disclosed that the innovation is enabling members wherever they are to key in and overcome power problems. “As a result, it will ensure steady manufacturing of their products.”
He advised Nigerians to patronise made in Nigeria goods, adding that for every one dollar spent on a foreign product, it makes the product and the foreign company better while local manufacturers die.
On his part, Gov. Bassey Otu who was the Special Guest of Honour said all over the world, no country would survive without manufacturing adding that manufacturers must be celebrated.
Represented by Mr Bashel Justin, Cross River Commissioner for Science and Technology, Otu said he was aware of the challenges faced by manufacturers in the state, which has made many of them fold up.
