How MAN Resource Centre enhances manufacturers’ capacity, profits
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) recently introduced a resource centre, with a view to having an arm that would serve as a business solution segment of real sector players in the country.
The MAN Resource Centre was created by the Frank Udemba Jacobs, as soon as he assumed office as president of MAN.
It is an innovation that aims to help Nigeria’s manufacturers expand their market reach within and beyond the country, while understanding modern solutions and products in IT, research and development, among others.
The Resource Centre was mandated to use training, business support and advisory services as tools to proffer solutions to the manufacturing issues, while building and increasing professional capacities and skills.
MAN Resource Centre also leverages the expertise and experience of skilled consultants and professionals to address business challenges.
The centre, which is located at the first floor of MAN House, Awolowo Way in Ikeja, Lagos, is in the forefront of campaign for the patronage of Nigerian products. MAN Resource Centre has, for this purpose, created an online platform naijaown.com, which showcases made-in-Nigeria goods produced by MAN members.
According to Doris Onwugamba, managing director of the centre, the institution re-invents the market and drives the campaign for the patronage of locally manufactured and indigenous products to develop Nigerian economy and show the world that Africa’s biggest economy is on track.
Onwugamba explained that with the resource centre, “it is now possible to take advantage of the CBN MSME Intervention Fund and other Venture Capital investments when you talk to us.”
“This is a manufacturing institute established to equip participants with required employable manufacturing skills, business management skills, support resources and manufacturing entrepreneurial rudiments, needed to set up, structure and build a manufacturing business and also provide skills upgrade for employees of manufacturing organisations,” said the managing director.
Despite the relevance of this centre, many manufacturers are yet to come to terms with the fact that the resources there will help spike revenue, profits and capacity.
Understanding the role of the centre is important as it helps to enhance skills of manufacturers and their staff to enable higher productivity in the face of Nigeria’s oil price crash.
As a testament to this, the centre a set of training programmes for 2016. Some of the programmes designed for manufacturers are: Strategic Plans for Increase in Sales and Profitability; Increase in Working Capital through Fixed Assets Management; Workplace Generational Gap Management; and Industrial Safety and Quality Assurance in Manufacturing. Others are Staff Development Programme for Mid and Entry Level Workers and Critical Thinking for Innovation & Peak Performance, among others.
”We also have a number of business activities for our manufacturers. Our house is open to both local and foreign investors. By the time we unveil all our pragrammes, Nigerians will see why this centre is critical to our inclusive growth,” the managing director said.
ODINAKA ANUDU