By Merit Ibe
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), has concluded plans to hold its 50th Annual General Meeting and the 2nd Adeola Odutola Lecture of, MAN, scheduled to hold from October 17 to 19, 2022 at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.T
The out-going President, Mansur Ahmed made this known at a briefing with Journalists last Thursday in Lagos.
The forthcoming AGM according to him has the theme: “An Agenda for Nigeria’s Industrialization for the Next Decade”.
“This is borne out of the need to take stock of the nation’s journey to industrialization, to ascertain the pains and pain-points; to highlight the performance limiters; recognize the gains and growth milestones; and to identify the learning curves and hurdles ahead. All these with a view to crafting a robust agenda for resetting industrialization, albeit manufacturing in Nigeria”, he said.
“The significance of an electioneering year further propels us to bring to the consciousness of aspiring leaders of the nation the importance of a virile manufacturing sector. To put forward the case of being intentional about accelerating the growth and development of the sector in their agenda on the economy”, he noted.
“Over the years, the performance of the manufacturing sector has been constrained by numerous familiar challenges that are clearly espoused in our numerous presentations and submissions to the Government. Even our communications with you, our partners, sometimes appear to be repetitive about the same issues that remained unabated”, added the President.
“It is indeed a matter of great concern to our members that even as our economy continue to experience very slow growth, our policy makers at all levels continue to compound the situation by introducing new taxes, further worsening the difficult and high-cost operating environment. In some climes, when the economy slows down Government reduce taxes to encourage businesses to expand, create more jobs and increase economic activities. What we are seeing in Nigeria today is not only increasing tax rate but introducing new taxes and turning every public agency into a revenue collector”, maintained the MAN boss.
“In the midst of the challenges, we are resilient and soldier on with our advocacy for a conducive atmosphere for the operation of manufacturing business in Nigeria. We continue to work towards ensuring that Nigeria becomes an environment that promotes competitiveness”, Ahmed affirmed.
“This background informed our choice of our Distinguished Guest Speaker, who in his own right, has seen it all in manufacturing and can better point the way forward for the country’s leadership. He is also able to lead other members in charting a new course for the manufacturing sector. The speaker is an experienced industrialists who speaks the language of Nigerian manufacturers and have had his own share of immense successes in Nigeria and Africa”, he explained.
“For the 2nd Adeola Odutola Lecture, we are pleased to announce that Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON, the President/Chief Executive of Dangote Group is our distinguished Guest Speaker. He will be speaking to our wise spectrum of distinguished guests from the public and private sectors on the theme of the AGM. You will agree with me that he needs no much introductions because his achievements and success stories in the African industrial landscape speaks volume. He will share his wealth of experience, while offering suggestions on the practical way forward for manufacturing in Nigeria in the next decade”, stressed the President.
“We are also expecting to have His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the Special Guest of Honour while the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo will be the Guest of Honour. Other dignitaries being expected to grace the Lecture includes: Senate President, Speaker House of Representatives, Minister of Power, Directors General of Federal Departments and Agencies and Representatives of Diplomatic Corps”, stated Ahmed.
Giving a rundown of this year’s event, he said the programme will run for three days at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island which he listed as follows: Opening Ceremony of the 3-day Made in Nigeria Products Exhibition scheduled for Monday 17 October 2022 at 10am prompt. The exhibition will be a convergence of industry players, marketers, as well as consumers to experience a new world of quality products that are made in Nigeria. This is aimed at enlisting patronage of locally manufactured goods, 2nd Edition of the Adeola Odutola Lecture /Presidential Luncheon holding on Tuesday 18 October 2022 at 11am. The distinguished guest speaker will speak to the theme of the AGM. As you are all aware, the 3-day exhibition continues on this day and the private session of the 50th Annual General Meeting, which is a strictly MAN members affairs, holds on Wednesday, October 19 2022. The entire programme will then wind-up with the closing ceremony of the 3-day Exhibition of the Made in Nigeria Products.
