The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), has reiterated its call on the federal government to set up a fund for the manufacturing sector in the country.
MAN national president, Otunba Francis Meshioye, made the call yesterday in Port Harcourt while speaking at the end of a two-day conference and exhibition, organised by the Rivers/Bayelsa States chapter of the association.
Describing the funding of manufacturing as key, Meshioye advised the government not to focus on the oil and gas sector alone.
In his contribution, the head, Corporate Communications, Indorama Group, Dr. Josey Nkwocha, said the people of the Niger Delta region have the resources but do not know how to use them.
Nkwocha said: “We have the resources but do not know how to use them. See examples that Niger Delta can be the hub. Indorama produces polymer but almost all of it goes outside for processing. GP tanks, seats, pipes, etc but how many are produced here.
“Indorama produces three metric tonnes of urea but all of it goes to the north who now sends us rice, cucumber, yam, etc. Many southerners do not want to use fertiliser but eat what is produced with fertiliser from other countries and regions. We must learn to maximise our comparative advantage.”
He called on state governments in the South-South geopolitical zone to set up investment promotion agencies to promote investments in their respective states.
Also speaking, chief executive officer of Showers Group, Mrs Ekama Emilia Akpan, said there was the need to take advantage of the youth population and teach them core values of life.
