The adoption of cutting-edge technologies such as automation, AI, big data, and blockchain is seen driving sustainable manufacturing in Africa’s most populous nation.
By embracing these technologies, experts who spoke Tuesday at the 2025 Nigeria Manufacturing &Equipment Expo (NME/NIRAM) said Nigerian manufacturers can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase productivity.
Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, director-general at Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), said the theme of the expo, ‘Accelerating Sustainable Manufacturing through Cutting-edge Technology Solutions,’ calls for manufacturers to lead in tech-driven manufacturing.
He urged Nigerian manufacturers not to lag behind as the world transitions into smart, circular, and efficient production systems.
“Our duty is clear: integrate advanced technologies, foster resource efficiency, promote inclusive local content development, and institutionalize sustainability as a national industrial ethos,” he said.
He also noted that the exportation of raw materials in their crude form and the importation of refined ones leads to the country surrendering jobs and value offshore before it has even begun.
He explained that over 70 percent of the country’s manufacturing inputs are imported, noting that this shows the structural weaknesses in Nigeria’s manufacturing.
“It means, therefore, that what we lack is not potential, but strategic coordination, bold implementation, and technology-backed commitment,” he said. “That is precisely what this expo intends to trigger,” he added.
Francis Meshioye, president of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), said that by embracing cutting-edge technology solutions, the association is accelerating innovation, resilience, and long-term value for its stakeholders.
“Our focus is to spark conversations around the deployment of energy-efficiency in production processes; implementation of smart factory protocols, including Internet of Things and artificial intelligence to optimise resource use; and adoption of waste reduction strategies through closed-loop systems and advanced recycling methods.
“We are engendering partnerships with green tech innovators to co-develop scalable and sustainable solutions. This renewed commitment comes at a time when consumer expectations and regulatory pressures are increasing, urging companies to rethink their production strategies as part of their sustainability roadmap,” he said.
He described the expo as a marketplace of ideas and urged participants to look forward to harvesting innovative solutions to grow the manufacturing sector and develop the Nigerian economy.
Also, Uche Nnaji, minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, emphasised that the expo is a call to action to use new ideas, smart technology, and strong partnerships to boost manufacturing and create real opportunities for our people, especially the youth.
“We must ensure every policy, investment, and innovation creates real opportunities for Nigerian youth and gives them hope for the future,” Nnaji said.
He noted that the expo supports many of the President’s top priorities, such as economic growth, innovation, infrastructure, education, and good governance.
“Let us use this time to work together and turn plans into action. The world is moving fast, countries that invest in advanced technologies are growing quickly and creating good jobs,” he stressed.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos State, represented by Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, Lagos commissioner of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade, and Investment, noted that it is pertinent that Nigeria harnesses innovative strategies, cutting-edge technologies, and sustainable practices to drive growth.
“This event provides a veritable platform for us as a country with great potential to come together and chart a new path to manufacturing excellence.
“The theme, Accelerating Sustainable Manufacturing through Cutting Edge Technological Solutions, speaks to the future of manufacturing in Nigeria, especially in the face of current economic realities, which have brought to the fore the critical need for us to fully embrace manufacturing as a way of surmounting our economic challenges,” he said.
Moreover, Sanwo-Olu said that by harnessing technology, manufacturers would ensure that the country can also play an important role in the global manufacturing arena.
“The manufacturing industry remains a critical engine for economic diversification, for job creation and inclusive growth,” he noted.
