The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has encouraged players in the real sector to adopt emerging and disruptive technologies in order to stay relevant.
The President of the association, Francis Meshioye, stated this recently at a press conference held to herald this year’s Nigeria Raw Materials and Manufacturing Equipment Expo
“In the ever-evolving landscape where disruptive technologies and trends, including blockchain, Internet of Things, machine learning, artificial intelligence, green energy, and augmented reality are set to shape the future, we must harness these innovations to foster self-sufficiency.
“It is equally essential not to lose sight of the importance of harnessing locally sourced raw materials and availing oneself of critical support services such as financing and logistics,” he said.
According to Meshioye, the theme for this year’s event is “Future Manufacturing: Building a Sustainable Roadmap to the Industrialisation of Nigeria”.
Meshioye said that the theme was relevant in the current context, highlighting the need for stakeholders to engage in in-depth discussions on the importance of forward-thinking, environmentally responsible, and industry-supportive strategies in manufacturing.
He added that the expo, which would take place from November 21 to 23 in Lagos, would play host to industry stakeholders who would offer solutions to challenges facing the future of manufacturing in Nigeria.
On his part, Director-General/CEO, Prof. Hussaini Ibrahim, noted that the council had worked over the years with stakeholders to increase manufacturers’ access to both basic and secondary raw materials.
He added that the primary production of several strategic agricultural raw materials like cotton, sorghum, tomatoes, cocoa, sheet trees, oil palms, soya beans, cane sugar, cashews, fruits and sesame had been boosted by providing specific farmers with improved seeds or seedlings as the case might be.
He remarked, “Also, establishing over 40 pilot plants at the recently inaugurated Raw Materials and Development Council’s Technology and Innovation Complex, Obasanjo Space Centre, Airport Road, Abuja, is a testimony to our unwavering commitment to ensuring competitiveness in raw material and products development.”
