Kwara State Government has called for urgent action to drive Nigeria’s industrial revolution for better economic prosperity.
Speaking at the 11th Annual General Meeting of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Kwara/Kogi States Branch in Ilorin, the Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Mr. Kayode Alabi, emphasized that Nigeria is at a critical juncture in its development.
Represented by the State Commissioner for Special Duties, John Alabi, the deputy governor emphasize that the nation must transition from mere promises to practical production, and from untapped potential to measurable outcomes.
He warned against continued overdependence on crude oil and imported goods, stressing that such economic models have made Nigeria vulnerable to global disruptions and supply shocks.
Mr. Alabi praised the resilience and creativity of Nigerian entrepreneurs, from rice mills in Patigi to ceramics in Lokoja and footwear manufacturing in Ilorin, as evidence that the spirit of industry is alive and thriving.
He noted that this potential needs sustained support, scalability, and sustainability.
The Deputy Governor called for inclusive policymaking through strategic partnerships between government and industry players, adding that all stakeholders should act with both political and industrial will.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN,) Kwara/Kogi Branch, Mr. Mubaraq Shittu, expressed concerns over rising energy costs, foreign exchange challenges and high tax burdens .
He called for urgent policy responses, improved access to credit and the passage of the proposed Manufacturing Protection Bill to ease the process of doing business in the country.
COV/ALI MUHAMMAD RABIU
