Industry Ministry, firm partner on promotion of local products

The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and the Nigerian Brands Carnival, have concluded plans to promote the patronage of made in Nigeria products, aimed at further boosting the nation’s economy.

The collaboration is targeting about 774 brands from products cutting across homemade shoes, wares, appliances, bags among others in a seven-day exhibition to be held in Abuja soon and it is  expected to bring together various entrepreneurs across the 774 local government areas in Nigeria.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, after a closed door meeting with the Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Hajia Aisha Abubakar, the Project Coordinator, the Nigerian Brands Carnival, Adegboyega Ojuolape, said the collaboration would enhance  smooth commercialisation of made in Nigerian products currently overlooked on the shelves.

“This would be the best platform to further explore opportunities for Nigerian manufacturers/entrepreneurs to promote and  project our products to reach out to governments, opinion leaders, private sector leaders, and budding entrepreneurs to patronise our products,” he enthused.

Ojuolape said the Nigerian Brand Carnival is an uncommon integrated campaign, and reward platform that gives corporations and entrepreneurs the opportunity to tell their stories, share their experience and collaborate to support Nigerian products and services.

It is also an opportunity to recount concerns with public policymakers and governments on the need to continue to prioritise support for made in Nigeria. He decried that many of these products are presently underutilised because there is no deliberate effort to sensitise Nigerians on the need to patronise local products to boost Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

According to him, it’s very unfortunate that Nigerian entrepreneurs have continued to import same products from China, Indonesia, and Thailand to run the Nigeria economy, even with products of less quality.

Responding, Abubakar reassured of the Federal Government’s commitment to the promotion of home made products necessary to conserve the much needed foreign exchange for the nation.

“Time has come for us all to encourage the exportation of our products to the outside countries. If we can make our products available in the West African countries around us, then within a little time, we will conquer the world, create jobs for our people and earn more foreign exchange for our country especially at this time of recession,” she asserted.