The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has rewarded some media practitioners and called for continued partnership with the media to refocus government’s attention to manufacturing success for a more productive economy.
Otunba Francis Meshioye, President, MAN, said this at the 2023 edition of the MAN reporter of the year award on Tuesday in Lagos.
The journalists that came first and second positions under the radio, television, print, photo and online categories were presented with cash prices and plaques.
Meshioye, reaffirming the association’s mandate of advocating for a conducive business environment, said the help of the media would motivate government to implement policies guaranteeing manufacturing sustainability.
He lauded the efforts of the media in highlighting the pain points of manufacturers and stressed the importance of continued collaboration between both parties.
This collaboration, Meshioye said, was critical even as MAN remained committed to creating wealth and employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths in the society.
“Gentlemen of the press, your outstanding support through the years is indeed worthy of commendation.
“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.
“This year, we have undertaken some restructuring within the system to ensure that we work more closely with you, our partners.
“We shall undertake more innovative and more strategic advocacy mechanisms that will scale-up the manufacturing sector’s performance and its contribution to the economy,” he said.
The MAN president said that the association was also being strategic in its engagement during this electioneering year to place its issues on the front burner.
According to him, the association has engaged the presidential aspirants on the importance of having a virile and competitive manufacturing sector.
He added that MAN had 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.
He said that during his tenure as president, MAN would reinvigorate its advocacy focus to increase the output of the manufacturing sector and its contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 20 per cent by 2030.
Meshioye added that under his leadership, export of Nigerian manufactured products to other African Countries and beyond must increase.
“We would promote manufacturing sector employment through capacity building, new technologies, and professional advisory services and extend our advocacy outreach at regional and continental levels.
“We are committed to promoting 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.
“I pledge to also drive MAN’s effectiveness through continuous improvement of human resources, technology enablement, corporate governance, and financial viability,” he said.
Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir, Director General, MAN, noted that manufacturers challenges were being compounded by fuel, currency and foreign exchange scarcity.
He, however, charged manufacturers to remain resilient as the association continues to engage political gladiators to address issues that would lead to sustainable manufacturing in the next ten years.
