West Africa IMT To Position Nigeria As Leaders In Africa – Enoh

The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, said that the West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing & Trade Summit & Exhibition (IMT) would position Nigeria as a leader in Africa, particularly within the West African sub-region.

Also, Enoh stated that the Ministry will launch a nationwide campaign promoting the purchase of made-in-Nigeria goods and services, which could potentially generate an additional N3 trillion in the short term and shift consumer behaviour towards supporting domestic manufacturing.

The minister stated this at the unveiling of the Summit at a press conference held yesterday in Lagos. The event, scheduled for October 21 to 23, 2025, will bring together key industry stakeholders in the West African region to engage in impactful dialogue and explore opportunities for public and private sector collaborations.

Central to the discourse will be the strategies for implementing the new National Industrial Policy, to develop and scale industries to transform the region’s economic future.

The Minister noted that “the IMT event is more than a gathering. It is a platform to accelerate Africa’s march towards true industrialisation. For too long, our progress has been tied to the export of raw materials, but the time has come to unlock the full potential of our industries, scale our MSMEs, and harness our abundant manufacturing resources.

“Industrial growth is not just an economic imperative; it is the foundation for job creation, skills development, and sustainable prosperity. This is why the Ministry is not only endorsing West Africa IMT but is fully committed to its success. The future of our nation and the region depends on how boldly we embrace industrialisation today.”

Enoh noted that a ministerial roundtable will address specific thematic areas sequentially, such as affordable long-term financing and power sector development. This structured dialogue is intended to facilitate practical solutions to the industry’s challenges.

He underscored the essential role of the private sector in driving industrial growth, declaring that the government’s role is to create an enabling environment through the right policies and partnerships. He added that “by nurturing this collaboration, we can pave the way for a robust industrial future in our region.”

Country director, Nigeria, and portfolio director, Energy for dmg Nigeria events, Wemimo Oyelana said, “The West Africa IMT Summit is more than an industry event; it is a platform to unlock West Africa’s true industrial potential. We are at a defining moment as a region, where our decisions around industrialisation, manufacturing, and technology will shape our growth story for future generations.”

She stated, “Our goal is to create an open space where the industrial ecosystem can come together not just to exchange ideas but to build and implement practical solutions that strengthen industries, drive trade, and create opportunities for our people. This Summit is about accelerating an industrial revolution that is sustainable, inclusive, and capable of delivering real impact for communities across West Africa.”

West Africa IMT’s mission is to advance industrialisation, manufacturing, and technology innovation across the region while also highlighting the need for stakeholders to maximise the opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).