Abuja, Nigeria – April 2025 – The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, under the visionary leadership of the Honourable Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, convened a high-level roundtable session with key stakeholders to drive Nigeria’s industrial growth and global competitiveness. This collaborative dialogue marks a pivotal step in actualizing the industrial agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The session focused on Presidential Priority Sectors—including dairy, palm oil, cassava, light electronics, and tomato—aimed to transition industrial policy discussions from potential to implementation. Senator Enoh emphasized the need for actionable strategies to maximize economic contributions and create measurable impacts across key industries. He affirmed that this roundtable session is not a one-off but rather the beginning of sustained dialogue and collaborative effort to achieve Nigeria’s industrial goals.
“This engagement highlights our commitment to bridge policy gaps, foster synergy between industry and agriculture, and catalyse industrial transformation,” stated Senator Enoh. He also called for a comprehensive policy to drive growth in the cassava sector, noting its potential as a cornerstone for industrial and agricultural integration. “By prioritizing implementation frameworks and leveraging stakeholder expertise, we aim to elevate Nigeria’s industrial sector to new heights.”
Industry associations, including the Dairy Association of Nigeria, Oil Palm Growers Association, Cassava Association, Light Electronics Association, and Tomato Association, shared actionable insights and strategies to address critical industry challenges. Their collaboration will play a vital role in ensuring policy execution aligns with Nigeria’s industrial goals.
Senator Enoh directed relevant departments to engage regulatory bodies, including the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the National Broadcasting Commission, to address industry concerns and prioritize frameworks that enhance local manufacturing capabilities. Immediate action will be taken to reclassify dairy as a manufacturing industry, formulate cassava policies, and bolster electronics production through local capacity building.
In his remarks, Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, underscored Nigeria’s commitment to industrial innovation and competitiveness on a global scale. He emphasized consistent data collection, streamlined efforts, and accountability mechanisms as cornerstones of the Ministry’s vision.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s dedication to ensuring these stakeholder engagements translate into measurable economic growth. “This dialogue is the start of an enhanced public-private partnership that will position Nigeria as a leader in Africa’s industrial renaissance.”
Mrs. Muyiwa Ajayi, Director of the Industrial Development Department (IDD), in her summary of key action points outlined strategies to enhance industrial productivity, emphasizing localized solutions and robust regulatory frameworks and Public-Private Collaboration to some sector specific issues.
With this renewed momentum, Nigeria is set to unlock the full potential of its industrial landscape, fostering job creation, economic diversification, and technological advancement.
Signed
Dr Adebayo Thomas
Director
Press and Public Relations
3rd April 2025
