Ayo Alonge and Uche Henry
As part of the need to grow Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the country, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Simbi Wabote, has advocated the importance of utilising Nigeria’s local content elements in every enterprising initiatives by entreprenuers.
According to him, no endeavour can be accepted both locally and internationally without the employment of local contents.
Speaking at the 3rd Nigeria Entreprenuership Summit and Honour held in Lagos, recently, Wabote who was represented by the Manager; Human Capacity Development, Angela Okoro, said, there cannot be a viable enterprise without due identification of and utilisation of local contents, adding that Japan, China, Germany and other developed economies became world powers economically by looking inwards.
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He, therefore, charged Nigeria’s SMEs to, as a matter of priority for national interest, begin to look
inward by harnessing all the abundant natural resources available in the country before hitting the global market.
Speaking at the 3rd Nigeria Entreprenuership Summit and Honor held in Lagos recently, Wabote who spoke on the theme ‘Nigerian content and Entreprises competitiveness’, said that the conference is geared towards driving and showing commitment towards developing local capacities and capabilities especially in areas of facilities, infrastructure, manufacturing, human capital and entreprenuership.
“It is important to mention that the board is determined to enhance sustainable growth of Nigeria’s contents, local and international competitiveness, as well as stimulating robust economic growth and development,” he said.
Wabote also reiterated the board’s giant steps taken revamping the economy in line with the Federal Government’s plans for economic diversification and Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).
He further posited that NCDMB has embarked on training and capacity building, domiciliation and growth of manufacturing assembly and fabrication, maintenance of equipment and asset ownership.
“We have trained and offered certifications to 60 artisans in fields of plumbing, carpentry, masonry, electrical, paiinting, scaffolding, welding, tiling, among others.
“The board has trained 250 graduates in poultry farming while the second batch of training is ongoing,” he added.