The President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Monday launched a contest to promote Made in Nigeria products.
The contest which will run for the best three months is aimed at
showcasing the process and raw materials used in producing such locally
made goods.
A statement signed by Bamikole Omishore, special assistant on New
Media to the Senate President said that the contest will identify the
good products that could be matched with investors and relevant
government agencies.
He said that such agencies or investors would drive the products to
the extent that they compete favourably with any similar product being
imported.
“Today, as promised, we kick-start the soft launch of the
#MadeInNigeria Challenge.This campaign is organized to showcase everyday
products that are used by Nigerians and produced by Nigerians locally
that serve as alternative to imported products.
“The next few weeks, we hope to identify products and ideas that can
be matched with investors and government agencies. To wrap up the
Challenge, in March, we will be inviting some of the finalist to a Made
In Nigeria Roundtable at the Senate.
“This roundtable will allow us – legislators, government agencies,
business owners, and everyday Nigerian consumers to review and update
the report of the National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable
(NASSBER), which was held in 2016 to improve the ease of doing business
in the country,” he said.
Saraki added that the roundtable would also be used to get feedback
on the amendment to the Public Procurement Act passed by the Senate in
2016.
The amended Act mandates government agencies to give preference to local manufacturers in the procurement of goods and services.
Saraki’s aide added that from feedback received from Nigerians,
people want to see improved ease of doing business, access to funding,
effective oversight on agencies to make sure they are actually giving
preference to Made In Nigeria and most importantly to make sure clear
guidelines that are accessible online are set by the Corporate Affairs
Commission (CAC), Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), National
Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigerian
Export Promotion Council, etc.
He wished all the participants good luck and called on Nigerians to
use the hashtag #MadeInNigeria in their submitted videos for the
competition.