The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), United Nations and other stakeholders of the private sector have prioritized the nexus between Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and industrialisation to engender Nigeria’s sustainable recovery and growth.
They said this at a high level conversation on industrialisation and sustainable development with the theme: “Industrialisation: A Pathway to Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals” on Thursday in Lagos.
Ms Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General, United Nations, said that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic had in 2020 pushed 124 million people back into poverty.
To this effect, Mohammed stressed that a sustainable recovery for the Nigerian economy must be guided by the adoption and implementation of SDGs.
She stated that the UN Secretary General had put in place a double compact special initiative dedicated to promoting sustainable businesses to support Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda.
She encouraged MAN to engage with the double compact initiative in the context of the new Africa strategy so that business can effectively have a sustainable recovery for Nigeria and the continent.
“The double compact new Africa would ensure a hub would be established in Abuja to support businesses across the continent in our great effort to achieve the SDG goals.
“MAN’s support would be crucial to ensuring Nigeria takes profit in the 4th industrial revolution through the circular economy and efficient use of resources to reach zero waste as called for by SDG 7,9 and 12 to achieve its 2030 agenda,” she said.
Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir, Director-General, MAN, said that most developed economies today achieved enduring growth and development through advanced manufacturing capability.
He noted that the policy dispositions and implementation strategies of successive Nigerian governments aimed to create more employment opportunities, scale up production of consumer goods for the teeming population and generate wealth for the nation.
“However, the rate of industrialization in Nigeria has been slow, unimpressive evidenced by low industrial capacity utilization, modest manufacturing activities and constrained export of manufactured products within and outside the continent.
“For instance, Nigeria’s share of world output of 0.41 per cent, which ranked 29th in the world is very small, considering its size and structure, when compared with 3.1 per cent of India, 3.0 per cent recorded by South Korea and of course incomparable with the 28.7 per cent of China.
“This scenario is worrisome and requires concerted effort of all stakeholders to change the narrative.“To this end, we have identified the imperative of an industrialized Nigeria to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“There is the need to ascertain what must be done to reset industrialization and align its pillars with expectations of SDGs,” he said.
Prof Tunji Olaopa, Directing Staff, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies stressed the need for Nigeria to creatively confront and resolve the country’s high consumption culture against its minimal production capacity.
Olaopa called for greater adoption of clean, green and environmental friendly industrial processes reliant on alternative energy sources to save the planet.
“As a country going forward, it means that our entire policy architecture must be redirected towards consumption production discrepancy.
“This means focus on the local content Act especially the clauses on value creation, developing of private sector capacity and utilization of local resources in industrial activities,” he said.
Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation reiterated government’s commitment to protecting the interest of manufacturers for the sector’s improved contributions to the Nigerian economy.
Mustapha represented by Mr David Andrew, Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs, office of the Secretary to the Government, stressed the intricate link between industrialisation and the 17 SDGs.
“Global economic recovery from COVID-19 pandemic has taught us the need for reengineering through industrialisation and the government is ready to address issues the sector is faced with so as to record growth not just in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but in the actual lives of Nigerians.
“To this effect, we are ready to support a green economy, supported by green industries to propel green growth,” he said.Engr Mansur Ahmed, President, MAN, stated that the session was premised on the urgent need as industrialists to examine and prioritize the Nexus between industrialisation and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
“This is in alignment with the United Nations SDGs and we are thankful for the support of the Federal Government to bring value to the sector,” he said.Mr Carl Cruz, Managing Director, Unilever West Africa urged government to use fiscal policies to incentivise businesses to adopt eco friendly measures in industrialisation processes.