As Nigeria confronts its development challenges, Senate President Bukola Saraki has urged the Federal Government to look up to Igbo technology for an early exit from the current economic recession.
Saraki, who made the admonition on Monday, declared that Igbo technology has the capacity to refuel the economy and bring the country out of recession.
Saraki lamented the abandonment of Igbo technological prowess by past administrations in championing the country’s economic development.
In a speech he sent to the opening ceremony of the fourth “Made-in-Aba Trade Fair” holding at the Arts and Crafts Village, Abuja, Saraki said that the country needs Igbo technology now more than ever to wriggle out of the present economic recession.
Represented by the Senate Deputy Majority Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’allah (Kebbi South), the Senate President asked the Federal Government to promote made in Nigeria goods, especially those manufactured in Aba.
He noted that Nigeria has been paying the price for neglecting the technological prowess of the Igbo, adding that such mistake should not to be repeated.
Saraki said: “If there is any time that the Federal Republic of Nigeria needs the Igbo, it is now. Nigeria ought to have realised this very dependable people for its industrial growth but for whatever reason, the country abandoned them; it didn’t give the Igbo the seriousness they deserve and today we are paying the price.”
“You see, whatever God does has always been the correct thing, that is why we say, God is good, all the time”.
Saraki promised that the Senate and the National Assembly as a whole will continue to do everything within its mandate and powers to ensure that the domestic manufacturers and service providers have the enabling environment that they need to thrive.
He said: “Working with the Executive arm of government, we will push for improved infrastructure, financial investment and technology to boost our domestic manufacturing value chain.
“We are partners in this process; we will continue to be partners. I believe in ‘Made-in-Nigeria’, I believe in ‘Made-in-Aba’. The possibilities ahead of us are endless”.
In his remark, the Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, urged the Federal Government not to approve funds for foreign goods that are produced in Nigeria.
He said: “There is no need to appropriate money for goods that can be produced here, yet they are imported from overseas.
“The Federal Government should encourage made-in Aba products through the provision of infrastructure. Electricity supply is critical to the success of made in Aba products and beyond power, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) are required to make their goods”.
“So, if government, through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) provides the necessary machines and equipment, the sky will be our limit”.
The initiator of the “Made-in Aba Product Fair”, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia North) said about 200 of the Aba traders came to Abuja to display their products at the event.
According to him, the traders would be at the fair till Friday to represent other groups which were not opportuned to be at the show to display their products.
Earlier, the Director-General of SMEDAN, Dikko Umar Radda, called on Ikpeazu to consider public-private partnership options to bring succour to the operators.
He reiterated SMEDAN’s commitment to working with stakeholders to find cost-effective solutions to recurring infrastructural deficit at both leather and garment clusters.
Source – The Authority
