Business

Stakeholders Share Thoughts on What Nigeria Needs To Do For Thriving Manufacturing Sector

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3 years ago

October 23, 2023

OCHEFA

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By: Ocheneyi Alli

‘Setting The Agenda for Competitive Manufacturing under the AFCFTA : What Nigeria Needs to Do ‘

The above was the theme of the 3rd Adeola Odutola Lecture and Presidential Luncheon, organised by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), to mark its 51st Annual General Meeting (AGM).

At the event, held last week Thursday in Lagos, Otunba Francis Meshioye, the President MAN, said that the AGM theme was chosen to bring to the fore decades of the manufacturing sector’s successive low performance, and the promising growth trajectory and development opportunities that are embedded in the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) for the Nigerian manufacturing sector.

AfDB and UNIDO Industrial Competitiveness Index

He cited the African Development Bank (AFDB)’s industrialization index, which reports that Nigeria is yet to perform impressively in Manufacturing outputs .

Also, the UNIDO’s industrial competitive performance index has shown that Nigeria’s industrial sector has a low competitive capacity.

“There is no better time than now to confront the challenge of low competitiveness and abysmal performance of this important sector,” said Meshioye.

▪︎Francis Meshioye, MAN President

Global manufacturing outputs

Evidences from several parts of the world, including China, the United States, Japan, Germany, and South Korea, have shown the importance of the manufacturing sector in building a resilient economy.

“As an example, in 2021, average manufacturing output accounted for as high as 35 per cent of Ireland’s GDP growth; 27.44 per cent in the case of China, and 48 per cent of Puerto Rico’s economy.

Agenda For The Sector’s Transformation

He said said that though, the manufacturing sector is passing through hard and challenging times, setting a comprehensive agenda for the sector’s transformation will enhance its competitiveness and unlock its full potential.

Therefore, for the sector to do well, Meshioye, called on the Federal Government to ensure strict enforcement of local content laws in the manufacturing sector of the economy.

Meshioye, observed that Nigeria has a low local content adoption and patronage of made in Nigeria products, and therefore, urged the government to ensure effective enforcement of local content and patronage regulations.

He said this can be achieved by strict enforcement of local content laws, giving incentives for local sourcing of raw materials, and innovation in the manufacturing sector.

He also said that the government should also compel its ministries, departments and agencies at all levels to , as a matter of national importance, step up their compliance with existing government directive on patronage of made-in-Nigeria products, including the Executive Orders 003 and 005.

In 2021, average manufacturing output accounted for as high as 35 per cent of Ireland’s GDP growth; 27.44 per cent in the case of China, and 48 per cent of Puerto Rico’s economy
* Manufacturing Outputs

Sectoral Linkages and backward integration

In addition he said the manufacturing sector is one of the sectors of the economy with wide sectoral interlinkages.

“However, the low level of development of auxiliary sectors is disentangling the manufacturing sector from the rest of the sectors.

This is more so in agriculture, iron and steel and mining sectors.

“This has resulted in a limited supply of raw materials and other input for the manufacturing sector,” he said .

Therefore, it is essential to encourage backward integration and sectoral linkages to promote a more sustainable manufacturing sector in Nigeria.” he advised.

Government and manufacturers roles

The Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, expressed the readiness of the Minister of Industry to collaborate with MAN for the resuscitation of industrialization, emphasising the pivotal role of manufacturing in enhancing economic competitiveness of the country.

She maintained that there are four areas of collaboration between the government and manufacturing sector’s operators.

Namely, robust public private partnership particularly in the area of research and development to enhance the strength of manufacturing, supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) with capacity and potential for exports and investment in infrastructure and technology.

“We also must enhance quality standards and performance and adhere to international quality standards,” she said.

She maintained that Government is willing to support the establishment of research and development centres across the nation to enhance innovation and manufacturers should be encouraged to create these centres.

The Minister called on manufacturers to promote regional value chains and industrial clusters particularly with the ongoing efforts to join the second phase of the guided trade initiative.

“Together, we can ensure that Nigeria’s manufacturing sector not only thrives but becomes a global benchmark for manufacturing, contributing to the growth of the continent and the globe,” she said.

Keynote speaker’s insights

▪︎Olusegun Aganga

Olusegun Aganga, the Former Minister, Industry Trade and Investment, gave the keynote address.

Aganga offered insights into what Nigeria needs to do to harness the potential of AfCFTA and improve its manufacturing sector.

Aganga urged the federal government to declare the Industrial sector a national priority sector and back it with plans, policies and money.

The Former Minister pointed out that embracing competitive manufacturing under the AfCFTA is crucial for Nigeria’s economic growth and integration into the global marketplace.

“Nigeria may not be able to compete with China now, but by investing in infrastructure, innovation and skilled labour, while addressing trade barriers, the business environment and promoting market access, Nigeria can certainly position itself as the manufacturing hub in Africa.

Needs for National Competitiveness Council (NCC)

“Let us work together and seize this historic opportunity and create a prosperous and vibrant manufacturing sector that will benefit Nigerians and contribute to the economic development of the African continent as whole,” he said.

Moreover, Aganga underscored the significance of establishing a National Competitiveness Council (NCC) as an effective platform for constructive public-private dialogue on economic competitiveness.

NCCs, a proven global approach, help provide objective information on a nation’s competitiveness status and promote awareness of the correlation between national competitiveness, business performance, economic growth, and the overall prosperity of the population, he added.

The Former Minister also advocated the streamlining of the Customs procedures and regulations to simplify cross-border trade while reducing associated costs.

He urges Nigeria to harmonizing standards and norms to minimize non-tariff barriers and implementing the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement were key steps for Nigeria’s progress.

Monitoring Progress and making adjustments

“We must continuously monitor and evaluate our progress, making necessary adjustments along the way,” he stated.

▪︎From left: Segun Ajayi-Kadir, MAN Director-General, and Omotayo Okewunmi, MAN PRO, anchor the event.

Related Topics:3rd Adeola Odutola Lecture and 51st AGM of MAN Olusegun Aganga

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Dangote Foundation Takes Over Aliko Dangote Skills Acquisition Centre Kano

Under the agreement, the Foundation will manage the multi-million naira facility for a number of years and operate programmes aimed at equipping young people with technical, digital and industrial skills.

Published

5 hours ago

September 4, 2026

OCHEFA

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The Aliko Dangote Foundation has taken over the management of the Aliko Dangote Skills Acquisition Centre in Kano state.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Foundation and the Kano State Government, on Friday.

Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Kano-Jigawa Branch, Muhammad Bello Isyaku Umar, described the intervention as “far-reaching and impactful,” saying skills acquisition remained one of the most effective ways of addressing youth unemployment in Nigeria..

“Programmes such as the Aliko Dangote Skill Acquisition Centre can equip young people with practical skills that enable them to become entrepreneurs, artisans or employees. The emphasis should increasingly be on modern technical, digital and industrial skills,” Umar said.

He described Kano as the economic and commercial hub of northern Nigeria and said the Foundation’s interventions across the region had extended to several sectors.

Business

Okin Biscuits Set For Comeback After 17 Years, Targets Revival Of Jobs, Local Manufacturing

Founded in the 1980s by the late Chief Emmanuel Olatunji Adesoye, an illustrious son of Offa, Okin Biscuits grew into a household name with products including Okin Coasters, Shortcake and Okin Cabin Biscuits.

Published

11 hours ago

September 4, 2026

OCHEFA

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By Ochefa

After 17 years off the shelves, Okin Biscuits, one of Nigeria’s once-popular indigenous biscuit brands, is set to return to production as efforts intensify to revive the Ijagbo, Kwara State-based factory.

The planned comeback marks a significant attempt to restore one of the country’s old manufacturing brands while potentially reopening a major source of employment and economic activity in the community.

At its peak, the company provided direct and indirect employment to more than 2,000 people before production was eventually halted in 2009.

The shutdown reflected some of the structural problems that have continued to undermine Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, including harsh operating conditions, intense competition, inadequate infrastructure, vandalism and the theft of critical production equipment.

With the factory no longer producing, its products gradually disappeared from retail outlets and homes in Kwara, Lagos and other parts of the country.

Factory Undergoing Major Rehabilitation

However, the industrial facility is now showing signs of renewed activity.

A visit to the factory in Ijagbo showed that extensive rehabilitation work is underway across the complex.

The main factory building, which houses the production machinery, as well as the administrative block and other facilities, are undergoing comprehensive renovation.

The premises have already assumed a significantly different appearance, suggesting that the revival project has moved beyond plans and into physical reconstruction.

The management recently announced through its official Facebook page that production machinery was being test-run.

It said biscuits rolled off one of the rehabilitated production lines on August 25, 2026, marking the first production from the factory in 17 years.

The development is significant not merely as the return of a nostalgic consumer brand, but as an example of how the rehabilitation of abandoned industrial assets could contribute to renewed domestic production and employment.

For Nigeria, where manufacturers continue to contend with high energy and logistics costs, infrastructure constraints, foreign exchange pressures and strong competition from imported products, the reopening of an existing manufacturing facility could offer a potentially faster route to industrial capacity expansion than building an entirely new factory.

Community Backs Revival

…biscuits rolled off one of the rehabilitated production lines on August 25, 2026, marking the first production from the factory in 17 years.

The planned resuscitation has also attracted strong support from the Offa community.

The Aare Bobaselu of Offa, Chief Abdulatif Adekunle Ajeigbe, described the development as “heartwarming,” linking it to the broader Offa Mega City project championed by the Olora of Offa, Oba Muftau Mohammed Gbadamisi, Esuwoye II.

According to him, members of the community had made several efforts to revive the moribund factory, including exploring the possibility of group financing.

“We did our best to see that the factory came back to life, but it was the children of the late Asiwaju of Offa and the founder of the factory, Chief Emmanuel Olatunji Adesoye, who insisted on carrying on their father’s legacy through the factory,” he said.

Ajeigbe commended the founder’s children for their determination to preserve the family’s industrial legacy and bring the factory back into operation.

More Than A Brand Revival

The return of Okin Biscuits also highlights the wider economic value embedded in Nigeria’s abandoned industrial assets.

The company’s earlier success created employment not only within the factory but across its supply and distribution networks, including raw-material suppliers, transporters, distributors, retailers and other service providers.

A successful reopening could therefore have an economic impact extending beyond the factory gates, particularly if production eventually returns to significant capacity.

The bigger test, however, will be whether the revived company can operate sustainably in an increasingly competitive Nigerian consumer market.

The new investors will have to contend with production costs, energy supply, distribution challenges, consumer purchasing power and competition from both established domestic manufacturers and imported brands.

For Okin, the challenge is therefore not simply to restart the machines, but to build a commercially viable manufacturing operation capable of sustaining production, protecting jobs and reclaiming market share.

If successful, the return of Okin Biscuits could become more than a nostalgic homecoming for Nigerian consumers.

It could provide a practical demonstration that some of the country’s dormant industrial assets can be rehabilitated, modernised and returned to productive use.

After 17 years of silence, the sound of Okin’s production lines running again may therefore signal the beginning of a new chapter for one of Nigeria’s forgotten manufacturing brands.

Business

Dangote to launch Refinery’s IPO September 14 or 16

Dangote disclosed this on Thursday while speaking to investors and analysts in Botswana.

Published

13 hours ago

September 4, 2026

OCHEFA

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Aliko Dangote, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Dangote Group, says the initial public offering (IPO) of Dangote refinery will open in the next 10 to 12 days.

Dangote disclosed this on Thursday while speaking to investors and analysts in Botswana.

The refinery had announced plans to launch a Pan-African IPO, offering at least 10 percent of its refining business to fund a $40 billion expansion objective.

On August 18, the refinery said it had completed a $1 billion underwriting programme ahead of the planned IPO.

Speaking during his visit to the southern African country, Dangote said his ambition was to double the refinery’s capacity.“So our dream is that we want to make sure we double the capacity of the refinery… which will take us to 1.4 million barrels per day. The IPO will open in the next 10 to 12 days,” he said.