The Ministry of Budget and National Planning says the 22nd edition of the Nigerian Economic Summit, which has been scheduled to hold in Abuja by October this year, will focus on the need to strongly market and patronize Made-in-Nigeria goods.
Udoma Udo Udoma, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, disclosed this on Monday while inaugurating the Joint Planning Committee, JPC, for the Economic Summit, with the theme: Made-in-Nigeria.
The minister said the Summit will be used to galvanise support from stakeholders on the need to commit to changes required to strengthen the Nigerian economy, beginning with a change in the mindset of Nigerians by shifting their preference for anything foreign to patronizing made-in-Nigeria products.
Though he acknowledged that there are challenges in promoting Made-in-Nigeria products because of quality and standard issues, he nonetheless said Nigerians must challenge themselves; as “we have the ability in Nigeria to make products of the highest quality”.
Udoma explained that by encouraging patronage, manufacturers will be challenged to invest in technology required to upscale quality.
The minister said he was optimistic that the Summit will serve as a strong platform to sharpen the focus of conversation and extract tangible commitments and outcomes from participants, adding that “the key thrust would be to facilitate stakeholders’ discussion and agreements on the practical issues, opportunities, policies and regulations needed to allow ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ a success in the country.”
He stated that many of the recommendations from last year’s summit were reflected in the 2016 Budget and the Strategic Implementation Plan for Budget 2016.
He therefore enjoined the planning committee to take cognizance of the current Administration’s commitment to repositioning of the economy, creating jobs for the youths, as well as supporting the vulnerable groups.
Asue Ighodalo, Vice chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG, added that this year’s edition of the Summit is expected to convey the need for Nigerians to urgently “turn our consumption pattern from negative economic impact into being an asset through assuring a focus on “Made-in-Nigeria.”