The Federal Government is making a renewed call for Nigerians to embrace locally made products, emphasizing that increased patronage of ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ goods is key to strengthening the country’s economy and reducing unemployment.
At a Strategic Focus Group Meeting in Abeokuta, organized by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), stakeholders from across industries gathered to discuss how to boost the productivity and acceptance of Nigerian-made goods.
Babajide Sawyerr from NASENI’s Lagos office expressed concerns over the low demand for local products, warning that this trend is exporting jobs and slowing down economic growth. “If we don’t buy Nigerian, we are directly funding industries in other countries while ours suffer,” he noted.
The meeting brought together manufacturers, SMEs, academics, and key industry players to address the challenges of local production, identify solutions, and find ways to encourage Nigerians to support homegrown businesses.
Shifting Perception on Local Goods
Hadiza Kashiat, Head of Product and Marketing at the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), pointed out that a major hurdle is the negative perception many Nigerians have about their own products.
“A lot of our goods are of better quality than imported ones. In fact, Nigerian lubricants rank among the best in the world, and our palm oil is still being exported in large quantities by foreign nations,” she said.
She urged Nigerians to take inspiration from China, which once locked its economy to strengthen its industries. “If we truly want economic growth, we must prioritize our own products. No country develops by rejecting what it produces,” she added.
Challenges Slowing Local Manufacturing
Ibrahim Idris from the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) highlighted several issues affecting local manufacturers, including high energy costs, forex instability, underfunded research institutions, and the production of substandard goods.
To address these, NASENI has been working closely with industries, signing MoUs, and empowering skilled labor to improve technological innovation and enhance the quality of locally made products.
As the government intensifies efforts to promote local goods, the message is clear—supporting ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ is not just about patriotism, it’s about securing the nation’s economic future.
