Manufacturers of made-in-Nigeria products and their related institutions have been urged to ensure quality control and standards to enhance patronage.
This is to discourage Nigerians from going after foreign products and ensure self-reliance in line with the change agenda of the present administration.
Arising from a two-day dialogue and sensitisation meeting on Made-in-Nigeria Products organised by Civil Society Organisation Coalition for Made in Nigeria Products in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, the participants said this in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
According to them, lack of patronage of made-in-Nigeria products is the root cause of the wide spread unemployment, poverty and economic crises in the country.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, stakeholders on the promotion of Nigeria’s made products called on government at all levels to strongly discourage the promotion and consumption of foreign goods and services.
They also advocated that governments should create enabling environment for effective promotion, production and consumption of made in Nigeria products, while the citizens be enlightened more on the need to patronise home made goods and services.
The stakeholders also opined that the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology should be encouraged and their capacity further enhanced in their fight against unemployment and poverty through the promotion of consumption of made-in-Nigeria products
In the same vein, Civil Society Organisations and government should forge robust alliance to ensure the compilation of reliable data/directory on professionals, manufacturers and institutions, and their products/services.
They also called on the government to leverage on digital technology and exhibition as springboard for the promotion and consumption of made-in-Nigeria products to revolutionise the economic recovery plan of the country
The two-day meeting was a follow-up to the April 3 – 7, 2017 National Expo organised by the Ministry, held at Eagle Square Abuja.
ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo
