How Manufacturing Expo will re-invent Nigeria’s industrialisation

Nigeria is set to witness an important event that could re-invent its factories and industrialisation drive.
The Manufacturing & Equipment Expo is one event that brings together more than 3000 manufacturers and equipment suppliers.  This year’s event, which starts on March 14 (tomorrow) and ends on March 16, is unique, being a 3-in-one expo that features the Nigeria Manufacturing and Equipment Expo (NME), along with Manufacturing Partnership for African Development (mPAD) Conference and the Raw Material Expo (NIRAM Expo).
According to manufacturers, the fact that the Raw materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) agreed to host its NIRAM Expo along with NME shows the event will be complete.
Hence at a point manufacturers are scrambling for dollars to import raw materials, NIRAM Expo has assured that many manufacturers will find local inputs that will reduce their chase for foreign exchange. Similarly, manufacturers have been assured that the event will provide an opportunity for them to evaluate and purchase the latest machine tools and spare parts. 
 
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) is collaborating with Clarion Events West Africa and RMRDC to host these annual events.
Speaking with journalists at a recent press briefing, Frank Udemba Jacobs, president, MAN, said the events would support small- and medium-scale industries (SMIs) to raise their capacities.
 “The expo is principally targeted at SMEs to equip them with information on new processes on ways of boosting their production output, reducing cost, improving product quality and manufacturing for new markets,” Jacobs said.
 
“This year’s edition would be better especially as it will be held simultaneously with the Nigerian Raw Material Expo (NIRAM). The infusion of NIRAM into NME would afford exhibitors and visitors to the expo, a rare opportunity of machinery, equipment, financial services, professional consultancy and information on raw material sourcing,” said Jacobs.
He said the expo would provide opportunities for businesses to retool their machinery and get information on local sources of raw materials, which would be helpful in boosting production and reducing cost and time procurement.
 
According to Dele Alimi, managing director, CEWA, the exhibition would be accompanied with free-to-attend conferences, access to finance, capacity building and transportation.
“We will review what has happened in the industrial sector in the last 12 months and the challenges hindering the sector,” Alimi said.
 
Also speaking, Zainab Hammanga, director of investment and consultancy services, RMRDC, who represented Hussaini Doko Ibrahim, director general, RMRDC, said “the overall goal of RMRDC and partners in agreeing to the co-location concept is not only to retain the status of NIRAM but to internationalise the event by bringing international participants, thereby enlarging its scope as a platform for promoting the entire manufacturing value chain in Nigeria.”
 
The expo will take place at Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
ODINAKA ANUDU & JOSEPHINE OKOJIE
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