The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hajia Aisha Abubakar,
on Friday in Abuja said that the ministry would soon launch a
nationwide to encourage Nigerians to patronise made-in Nigeria products.
Abubakar
stated this at the signing of a footwear production agreement between
Global Smartfit Nigeria Ltd and Labora Shoes Ltd of South Africa in her
office.
The campaign is tagged, ”Patronise Naija Products’’.
Represented
by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Aminu Bisala, the
minister lauded the partnership deal aimed at boosting local
manufacturing of leathers and other footwear products.
“This venture is very commendable and there is no reason why it cannot be supported.
”Already,
the ministry is furthering the campaign for made-in-Nigeria products,
for us in Nigeria to consume what we produce and produce what we
consume, and even go beyond that to export.
“We
have the people, we have the brain, we have the resources, and so there
is nothing stopping us. As a nation we are proud of our commodities, we
are proud of our products.
“It is for
the producers to ensure quality. An average Nigerian wants value for
money and that is why possibly in the past you find them patronising
even substandard foreign goods with the thinking that they are getting
quality.
“So, this is a laudable venture,
and along with the Patronise Naija Products campaign, which we are
going to launch very soon; we are going to support all similar
initiatives not only in shoe production, but in all areas of SMEs (small
and medium enterprises).
“And I assure
you that the government is doing all it can to further that cause. That
is the spirit of this government, we are going to ensure the patronage
of made in Nigeria products with all the patriotism of Nigerians that it
deserves.
“So, I commend you, and the
foreign partner, it is a very welcome development. So, we hope in no
distant future, we will not only be supplying the domestic market but
also the West African market and even to South Africa.’’
Mr Ogonna Okonkwo,
the Managing Director of Global Smartfit, an indigenous footwear
manufacturing company, said that the partnership would result in the
establishment of shoe factories in different parts of the country.
Okonkwo
listed the economic benefits for the country to include job
opportunities for Nigerians and local manpower development in mechanised
shoe production.
He expressed his readiness to
partner with interested state governments in establishing shoe factories
in their domains and training their indigenes in the art for economic
development.
Chief Executive Officer of Labora, Mr Desmond Chunderlal,
said that Nigerians were deprived of affordable locally made quality
footwear due to the absence of a structured footwear industry in the
country.
Chunderlal, however, said that with the
partnership, the situation would soon be reversed for the overall
development of the nation’s economy.
#FOC news report
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