MAN will increase manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP to 20% by 2030-President
…Reaffirms commitment to advocacy for conducive business environment
The nation’s manufacturers’ umbrella body, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), has reaffirmed its commitment of providing the platform for the private sector to formulate and articulate policy suggestions that would be complementary to government’s efforts at policy formulation.
The Association’s President , Otunba Francis Meshioye, who stated this at the 2023 Edition of the MAN Reporter of the Year Award/Presidential Media Luncheon on Tuesday in Lagos, said that MAN is in business to create a climate of opinion in the country in which manufacturers can operate efficiently and profitably for the benefit of all.
As the collective voice of its members, MAN was established to promote and protect manufacturer’s collective interests and by so doing contribute meaningfully to the economic development of the country with emphasis on industrialisation.
“As you are aware, the mandate of MAN is to advocate for a conducive business environment for manufacturers. I am positive that together we can get the government to implement policies that would guarantee the sustainability of the economy’s productive sector,” said Meshioye.
“We have, over the years, highlighted the pain points of manufacturers in Nigeria. We remain committed to our principal objective of advocating for a conducive environment where manufacturing business can thrive, so that we can create wealth and employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths in the society.
“MAN is also being strategic in its engagement during this electioneering year to place its issues on the front burner. We have engaged the Presidential aspirants on the importance of having a virile and competitive manufacturing sector.
“We have equally pushed at different fora with major political contenders to incorporate the need to accelerate the growth and development of the manufacturing sector in their economic agenda.
“In this regard, we have availed all the political parties with our Blueprint for the Accelerated Development of Manufacturing in Nigeria as well as the agenda for manufacturing in Nigeria for the next 10 years.
The MAN President unveiled his agenda for duration of his tenure which he said he would implement with the support of the Secretariat.
According to him, the Association will reinvigorate its advocacy focus on the following mandates:
1. To Improve evidence-based advocacy through proactive engagement with legislators, policymakers, regulators, and other stakeholders;
2. Increase the output of the manufacturing sector and its contribution to GDP to 20 per cent by 2030;
3. Increase export of Nigerian manufactured products to other African Countries and beyond;
4. Promote manufacturing sector employment through capacity building, new technologies, and professional advisory services;
5. Promote inclusive inter-industry linkage between Small and Medium Industries (SMIs) and large corporations by encouraging the development of industry value chains, industrial parks, and collaboration with academia;
6. Extend MAN’s advocacy outreach at regional and continental levels through robust membership in and collaboration with relevant institutions;
7. Drive MAN’s effectiveness through continuous improvement of human resources, technology enablement, corporate governance, and financial viability;
8. Improve the quality of membership services by promoting a more conducive operating environment, improving the availability of public services, access to finance, providing information to members, and promoting patronage of made-in-Nigeria products; and
9. Ensure effective and timely dissemination of MAN’s views and positions to all arms of government, members, and the public through print, social and electronic media.
Meshioye acknowledged the indispensable role of the media in the Association’s advocacy project ,adding the attainment of the objectives to be achieved during his tenure will not be fully realised without the support of the media.
He said: “As our partners on this advocacy journey, we are not in doubt that the actualization of these mandates is a shared responsibility and we shall deliver with your unwavering support.
Eight journalists received awards including cash reward for their published reports in four categories-newspaper, television, radio and online.
“I must say that I was deeply impressed by the submission of the independent committee that reviewed the media entries for 2022.
“The feedback qualified the competition as keenly contested judging from the quality of the published and broadcasted works.
“However, their observation was that the number of submissions does not equate the population of media partners who equally gave the Association wide coverage and in-depth reportage.
“Hence, I would like to encourage those who do not submit entries to kindly do so this year. This will make the award a lot more competitive. Also, I will like to know if there is anything we can do to make participation more interesting or easier
Meshioye also acknowledged the outstanding support of the media through the years, saying that it has indeed worthy of commendation.
“My predecessors have spoken very highly of your contributions to the growth of the sector and I can attest to that. Partnering with you is such a worthy undertaking. Thank you for your selflessness and your significant contribution to our advocacy mandate.
“I must acknowledge the role you played during the Association’s 50th Annual General Meeting (AGM), particularly the exposure you gave to the Exhibition of Made-in-Nigeria products which was held from October 17-19, 2022 at the Lagos Oriental Hotel.
“ It is important to equally state that our theme for the 50th AGM, “An Agenda for Nigeria’s Industrialization for the Next Decade” has become the bedrock for the Association’s advocacy direction for the coming years.”
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