Yemisi Izuora
Preparation is ongoing for inaugural Nigeria Manufacturing Expo scheduled to hold in Lagos in March next year.
The expo will provide a platform for experts in the manufacturing sector to deliberate on how to support governments aspiration to industrialise the country.
The event is hosted by Event Patrons, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in partnership with Spintelligent Pty and Clarion Events Ltd, African event specialists and organisers of the West African Power Industry Convention (WAPIC).
“There is more to Nigeria than oil”, says Russell Hughes, Director of the Nigeria Manufacturing Expo. “Last year Nigerian imports of food processing and packaging machinery increased over 20% to $365 million, plastics and rubber products grew by 23.8% and $7.4bn was spent on importing vehicle and automotive parts along with the National Automotive Council (NAC) disbursing $46m in loans aimed at developing local production.”
As Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari stated during his first visit to the US ,“We are the most populous nation and largest market in Africa with vast human and natural resources, blessed with abundant young skilled workforce.”
“There is no other way to expand economic opportunities and create employment opportunities for millions of our youths than boosting domestic manufacturing, undertaking infrastructural development and industrialization” Hughes said.
According to the organisers, It will be an international platform to showcase manufacturing machines, facilitate re-tooling, build capacity of plant managers, stimulate investment and promote made-in-Nigeria products in accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP).
Also, Remi Ogunmefun, Director General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), said “We will mobilize MAN members and other stakeholders on the manufacturing value chain to participate in the exhibition”
Invitations to over 2,000 MAN members, automated production equipment resellers and distributors from West Africa will be issued in order to meet with over 100 international automated production machinery producers who will be showcasing their equipment and technologies as exhibitors.
Examples of some of the automated production machinery available for purchase and evaluation by manufacturers visiting the Trade Fair include drives, motors, cams, sensors, switches, control units, robotic arms, conveyors, m-2-m comms, on-time logistics, warehousing and much more.
There will also be funding support & financing products made available for machinery acquisition with Bank of Industry (BOI), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and various private sector banks having been invited as Event Partners to support local SME manufacturers to apply for the capital required to finance their factory upgrades, modernise their facilities and improve their manufacturing quality.
Free training will be provided for plant managers, procurement officers, technicians and engineers to help develop their careers in the manufacturing sector, up skill their teams, increase their output and become more competitive locally and internationally via a series of Seminars held on the Expo floor.