A one-day seminar/exhibition organized by Zaclair Investments Limited with the support of Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) has ended in Abuja with participants calling on the state and federal governments, including the National Orientation Agency to engage in communication campaign aimed at instilling patriotism in citizens to consume Made-in-Nigeria products.
The participants at the seminar which was held at Army Resource centre, however, charged the local manufacturers to exercise same by not producing substandard products.
They pointed out that improving the quality of Nigerian products would go a long way to encourge Nigerians to patronize local products.
They further urged regulatory bodies such as Standard Organization of Nigeria(SON) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control(NAFDAC), to ensure that local manufacturers keep to standard in order to build confidence in Nigerian products.
The participants commended the federal government for achieving self sufficiency in rice production and appealed to them to do same in other sectors where the local manufacturers have shown great committment.
They stated that Nigerians should be orientated on the need to consume Made-in-Nigeria products, pointing out that there was a need to pull the wools out of the eyes of Nigerians as the consumption of more Made-in-Nigeria products would mean more employment for the locals and a better economy for the nation.
They called for government’s intervention by way of policies to ensure preference of local products by the citizens.
These were contained in a communique signed by Dr. Sunny Mbazie, the chairman of the communique drafting committee.
The event with the theme:’ Re-orientation Towards Ensuring Preference and Consumption of Domestic Agro-allied Products”, was attended by the Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, Trade, Industry and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, who sent representatives.
Other dignitaries who graced the occasion were Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Garba Abari, Director-General, National Orientation Agency(NOA), Arc. Kabir Ibrahim, National President, All Farmers Association(AFAN) and Prof. Garba Sharubutu, the Executive Director, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria.
Also, Adelabu Abdulrazak, CEO, Zakclair Investments Limited, Mohammad Sani Garba, Executive Chairman, Business Visa and Training Company Limited, Prof. Kuta Yahaya, Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Mr. Muda Yussuf, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce, Prof. Oyerinde Akeem, University of Abuja, Comrade Ladi Bala, President, Nigeria Women of Journalists(NAWOJ) and Dr. Obinnaya Uruakpa, CEO, Grand Renaissance International Limited.
