Producers in Africa’s most populous nation have been known as to embrace native machine constructing, making it central for driving industrial development and decreasing dependence on imported equipment.
Consultants on the ongoing Nigeria Manufacturing and Gear/ Nigerian Uncooked Supplies Expo (NME/NIRAM) 2025 warned that except the nation shifts from importing machines and tools, its aspiration for industrial sovereignty will stay out of attain.
John Owan Enoh, minister of State for Trade, in his deal with, described the nation’s over-reliance on international machines and tools as a modern-day type of neocolonialism.
“Until we’re capable of manufacture our tools and machines, we are going to by no means get wherever but. As a result of the international locations we’re getting them from should not bored with supplying,” the minister lamented.
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Enoh famous that manufacturing globally is present process a profound revolution pushed by automation, synthetic intelligence, vitality effectivity, good infrastructure which is redrawing the map and the boundaries of potentialities.
He pressured that the nation can not afford to be left behind within the profound revolution, saying the nation has the uncooked materials base, the geography, a big inhabitants, and the fitting vitality combine to drive its industrialisation.
Enoh mentioned the nation should transfer past treating expertise as simply cutting-edge manufacturing tools and development capital, however as a essential want for manufacturing survival.
The minister famous that except the nation manufactured its personal tools, it could by no means attain industrial dignity.
He appreciated the Producers Affiliation of Nigeria (MAN) and the Uncooked Supplies Analysis and Improvement Council for the expo, whereas calling on contributors to forge strategic expertise switch partnerships with universities and polytechnics, and discover modular and decentralised tools fashions suited to Nigeria’s distinctive industrial ecosystem.
Kofo Akinkugbe, managing-director, SecureID Restricted, in her presentation on Enhancing Sustainable Innovation and Expertise Switch in Manufacturing, mentioned the nation should transfer from being a purchaser of revolutionary options to a creator to drive development and industrialisation.
She famous that the nation’s manufacturing just isn’t the place it must be given the huge pure assets and entrepreneurial spirit of its residents.
She famous that the excessive importation of apparatus and machines has flooded the nation with “used industrial scrap.”
Akinkugbe urged the federal government to study from the examples of expertise transfers in India and China.
“Shopping for machines from China or Germany, that’s not expertise switch. Actual switch occurs after we can repair the machines ourselves, perceive how they work and ultimately construct them ourselves,” she mentioned.
In his welcome deal with, Francis Meshioye, president of the Producers Affiliation of Nigeria (MAN), famous that audio system on the ongoing expo have emphasised the significance of displaying seriousness and readiness to revolutionise manufacturing with revolutionary approaches.
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He mentioned the expo has introduced a singular platform for producers to study from each other, problem the established order, and pave the way in which for developments that can form the manufacturing panorama in Nigeria and past.
“As we navigate by way of extra shows, discussions, and networking classes at the moment, allow us to remember the overarching objective of this occasion: to reinforce the competitiveness of our manufacturing sector.”
“We should harness the improvements and methods introduced right here to equip ourselves to raised reply to native calls for whereas additionally positioning ourselves strategically within the world market.”
Segun Ajayi-Kadir, director-general, MAN, praised the revitalised collaboration between the Ministry of Trade and stakeholders within the non-public sector, citing the Industrial Revolution Working Group as a transformative step that has improved suggestions from producers.
