Lagos, Dec. 6, 2023: Mr Abiola Ogunrinde, Managing Director, Tropical Naturals (Makers of Dudu Osun Soap) has urged manufacturers to embrace use of local raw materials to drive supply chain optimisation.
This, he said, would reduce exposure to foreign exchange and export uncertainties and enhance productivity.
Ogunrinde gave the advice at the Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals sector Group of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) event on Tuesday in Lagos.
The event’s theme is: ” Innovative Strategies for Pharmaceutical and Chemical Manufacturing: Overcoming Talent Shortages and Optimizing Supply Chains”.
He said manufacturers must also adopt solutions aimed at addressing skill shortages such as investing in training, apprenticeship schemes, tweak the workforce, focus on staff retention and embrace technology.
He said this was important because Nigeria was not producing sufficient number of workers with the skills that employers needed, seeing that too many people lacked technical abilities.
He explained that the preference of degrees over technical diplomas and vocational trade skills impacted skill shortages.
Ogunrinde urged manufacturers to address the increasing workload and employee burnout leading to pressure, fatigue, stress, burnout, decreased job satisfaction, low morale and lack of productivity.
“It is important to partner with local trade schools, colleagues and universities on these trainings.
“Use women where underrepresented in operating packaging machines for example and focus on staff retention by creating a culture that encourages people to stay,” he said.
On supply chain optimisation, Ogunrinde advised manufacturers to create, allocate and use capacity, and embrace more technology and data to gain competitive advantage.
This, he said, would control costs along the chain, avoid supply shortages, prevent product recall and lawsuits, and address uncertainty in dollar availability.
Mr Rotimi Aluko, Outgoing Chairman, Chemicals and Pharmaceutical Sector, MAN, lauded manufacturers for weathering the numerous economic storms that had befallen industries recently, which materialised in intermittent, crippling, major and semi recession effects.
Aluko noted that the chemicals and pharmaceutical sectoral was at the heart of Nigeria’s growth and development, saying its contributions to employment was pivotal to the survival of the citizenry and national wellbeing.
He charged players to not rest on their oars but continue to press through the numerous challenges, and place steady demand of high standard from the government to provide a favourable business environment for healthy competition.
“These are critical to achieving the goals set for Gross Domestic Product growth of six per cent in the next few years.
“With the bold steps taken by the new administration to stop the national economic hemorrhage afflicting our country and with positive and proactive leadership at all levels of governance, we will see a clear path leading to the rescue of the economy.
“As good intentions are never just enough; we would have to persistently engage government with our various advocacy fora to ensure that these great intentions are properly executed to actualise our lofty manufacturing dreams for our nation- Nigeria,” he said.
