Acting President: Let's start Nigeria’s industrialization with “Made in Aba”

Towards taking the path of Nations that have achieved results with their industrial development quest, Nigeria should leverage on the “Made-in-Aba” phenomenon to kick-start the Made-in-Nigeria campaign.

The Industrialisation process in Nigeria has received more sloganeering than the actual policy implementation. Within a period of 37 years, Nigeria drafted over 10 industrial development policies, without implementing none to 50 percent of its detailed programme.

We’ve had Green Revolution, Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (NEEDS), Small and Medium Industries Equity Investment Scheme (SMIEIS), 7-points agenda, Vision 20:2020, Transformation Agenda among others. The only thing we could remember of these policies is the slogan the government echoed into my ear.

The current administration also initiated its version of sloganeering, the Made-In-Nigeriainitiative. Most Nigerians saw this as a good move, considering the exchange rate crisis in the country.

But the absence of dedicated efforts towards implementing the policy to the latter still beclouds the current initiative.

What I can deduce from the thrust of this initiative is to also put the slogan in our mouth, while the government will go to sleep. Since we are a nation of miracle believing people, these words would translate into industrial development. This, I surely know will never happen, the government needs to follow the path of other countries like India that didn't campaign made inIndia, but enforced made in India through actions- Tata automobile industry in India.

Towards taking the path of Nations that have achieved results with their industrial development quest, Nigeria should leverage on the “Made-in-Aba” phenomenon to kick-start the Made-in-Nigeria campaign.

The made in Aba narration has been with us for long now although it connotes the sub-standard version of an original make. Policymakers, venture capitalists and enterprises have failed to recognised the ability and ingenuity of cottage industries operating in this space to replicate any product, even if it is a sub-standard version.

One quote we commonly hear as we grow is “take anything to Aba, this guy will produce it for you.”

If this statement is found true, the Federal Government should begin the process of its industrialisation rebirth policy by leveraging on the achievement of the Aba industrial prowess to advance economic diversification and growth.

Also referencing the Acting President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo during his visit to Aba, where he exclaimed at the prowess of the set-up, “Nigeria has no business with China if all hands are on deck to develop Aba as a major Industrial Base.”

Aba is a small industrial city, which is famous for its handicrafts. The city also has the largest market in West Africa, Ariaria International Market. As Lagos is the commercial hub ofNigeria, Aba is the manufacturing and industrial hub of the country.

Among thriving industries within the city, is the famous Aba Shoe Industry. Facts available show that this industry competes with other major shoe and leather products companies of the world.

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Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo taking delivery of his made in Aba shoes.

 (The News)

A former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo also acknowledged this performance and strides of Aba shoe industry by stating during the 2016 Elumleu Entrepreneurship Forum in Lagos: “Governor, I listened to you and I commend you for what you’re doing in Abia."

"Please keep doing what you’ve told us you’re doing. So, Governor of Abia, you have to send a pair of the shoes to me; I use size 42.”

It is an incontrovertible fact that Aba has a comparative advantage in leather and garment works. Then, I only hoped that one day the industry will produce a pair of shoes for everyone inNigeria.

As best as the scenario above portraits, the Nigerian shoe makers are encountering mounting challenges which could be best solved by the government, both federal and state. Some of which include the absence of capital, epileptic power supplies, bad roads, high costs of acquiring modern industrial machines and import products taste of Nigerians.

One of the shoe makers in the market, Uche Okeke noted that: “I used to make 1,000 pairs of women’s shoes a month before the price of glue quadrupled, forcing him to halve production and lay off half his 10 staff.”

This shows that SMEs operators in the market are always at the prey of little economic disturbances in the country.

Thus, the government should start an adoption programme, like the commodity marketing board mechanism which would safeguard the shoe industry from volatility in the economy while sustaining their production level.

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Nigerian Army putting on the Nigerian made boot

 (New Telegraph)

In the same way, the government must encourage other military and para-military security outfits patronise the Aba shoe industry, as the Nigerian Army has done with his recent 50,000 boots order from indigenous shoe makers in Aba market.

One noted trend which is harmful to industrial development, which the government must stop is the labelling or trademarking good produced in Nigeria as made in either Italy or China –shoes, China and France – garments. I once witness such horrible experience during one of my visit to the Lagos market where corporate suits are sewn and were being labelled made in Italy and France.

When I inquired from the designers of these suits, I was told that: “You see these guys working in banks and big companies will never buy it if they see made in Nigeria.”

“Since we must eat, we have to import these labels and put on them after sewing. This gives us the opportunity to sell at a higher price.”

Some of them also revealed that some boutique would request them to produce these clothes and use monogram to inscribe whatever brand they know the people are looking. These brands are usually foreign.

In the similar vein, the Chairman of the Shoe Plaza of the Ariaria International market, Hon. Christain Okoro also narrated similar experience with shoes produced in the market during a chat with a leading newspapers, the New Telegraph, in December, 2016.

“Aba-made products are exported to Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Italy, where they are given more touches and imported back to Nigeria and marketed as foreign shoes.”

Can the Acting President lead the path by wearing a Made-in-Aba shoe as well as encourage his rotini of cabinet to do, while on the made in Nigeria evangelism? Though, he has a personal choice on that but doing so would go a long way in pushing the made in Nigeria narration forward.

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Can the Acting President lead the way in encouraging the use of Made in Nigeria.

 (myabastory)

Also, I would encourage the government to consider calling on foreign investors to consider investing in this industry. One move the Abia State government is doing great on.

Comrade Okoro noted that what they need is support, and if given the entire Africa and the rest of the world will be coming to get their shoes from the market.

“…if they are given the needed support, the entire Africa and the rest of the world will be coming to Aba for their shoe.”

“Made in Aba products are already making waves in different countries in Africa such as Togo, Niger Republic, Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Libya and Senegal. This is besides their customers from all parts of Nigeria the North,” he stated.

It has been proven by the industrial revolution experience with the Japanese geese industrial development model stating you only need one sector with massive inward and outward linkage to achieve inclusive economic growth and development.

It on this note, I would end.

If the current administration feels the need to stop the sloganeering industrialisation to a more practical policy implementation, the Aba shoe industry is a good start for the country.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.