The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has renewed its call for the Federal Government to institutionalize an annual “Proudly Nigeria Day” — a symbolic national celebration that would promote the culture of consuming and producing locally made goods.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 53rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of MAN held in Lagos, the Association’s President, Otunba Francis Meshioye, OFR, emphasized that the initiative aims to spark a national economic reflection, encourage behavioural change, and rebuild consumer confidence in Nigerian-made products.
“On this day, all citizens, especially public officials, should wear, use, and consume only Made-in-Nigeria products,” Meshioye declared. “Let it be a day that renews national pride and strengthens our cultural appreciation of homegrown innovation and enterprise.”
According to him, such a tradition, if established, will gradually shift public perception towards embracing local brands and help unlock the nation’s full industrial potential.
“Nigeria First”: The Pathway to Economic Rebirth
The theme of the 53rd AGM, “Nigeria First: Prioritizing Patronage of Made-in-Nigeria,” reflects MAN’s long-standing advocacy for domestic industrialisation through deliberate policy actions. Meshioye clarified that the “Nigeria First” agenda is not anti-globalization but rather a pragmatic strategy to empower local manufacturers, safeguard jobs, and promote national innovation.
“Every industrialised country in the world began its journey by nurturing local content and leveraging public and private procurement to drive economic expansion,” he said. “Nigeria must not go the opposite direction.”
He stressed that government procurement policies should serve as a major driver of domestic production, urging the full enforcement of Executive Orders 003 and 005, which mandate MDAs to prioritize locally manufactured goods in contracts and project implementation.
“These Executive Orders must be fully implemented, monitored, and enforced. More importantly, there must be consequences for non-compliance,” he insisted. “Policy inertia has delayed our progress for too long. We must move from policy pronouncements to legislative backing and bold execution.”
Accountability and Institutional Reform
To ensure sustainability, Meshioye proposed the creation of an independent compliance agency that would audit and publicly disclose the level of local content patronage across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
“Let Nigerians know which institutions are truly driving local economic empowerment and which are not. Those failing to comply must face clear consequences,” he said. “Only through transparency can we align government spending with our industrial policy goals.”
Corporate Nigeria and the Local Value Chain Imperative
Meshioye also challenged corporate Nigeria — including multinationals, conglomerates, and major procurement firms — to support the “Nigeria First” vision by sourcing raw materials, packaging, and inputs locally. He lamented that many firms continue to overlook high-quality local alternatives due to outdated cost assumptions or procurement traditions.
“Corporate Nigeria must rethink its sourcing strategy. Many of the materials needed for production are available locally at competitive quality and cost. Long-term national value must now take precedence over short-term convenience,” he noted.
Tackling Constraints to Industrial Competitiveness
While calling for patriotic patronage, the MAN President acknowledged the tough operating environment facing manufacturers in Nigeria. He cited high energy costs, poor logistics infrastructure, insecurity, and limited access to affordable credit as persistent challenges.
“Manufacturers are operating in an environment that stifles competitiveness,” he said. “Energy costs are crippling, infrastructure gaps persist, and insecurity continues to threaten investment planning. These structural bottlenecks must be addressed urgently if local production is to thrive.”
He revealed that MAN is deepening its engagement with government in critical policy areas such as industrial financing, infrastructure development, tax reform, and trade facilitation. The association, he added, is also investing in research, technology partnerships, and market integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
Learning from Global Success Stories
Meshioye urged Nigeria to learn from countries like China and India that successfully implemented industrial policies—such as “Made in China 2025” and India’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India)”—to build globally competitive manufacturing sectors.
“Nigeria must design a National Demand Plan that maps procurement opportunities and integrates local manufacturers into supply chains. Without deliberate planning, we risk remaining import-dependent,” he warned.
He emphasized that the success of “Nigeria First” depends on aligning demand-side policies with supply-side incentives, ensuring that local producers can meet market expectations in quality and scale.
A Symbol of Economic Renewal and National Identity
Reflecting on MAN’s long-standing advocacy, economic analysts have described the proposed “Proudly Nigeria Day” as both symbolic and transformative. They note that such a day could spark a cultural awakening that goes beyond policy rhetoric — a collective act of economic patriotism capable of boosting manufacturing output, job creation, and national self-esteem.
Meshioye’s vision captures this spirit succinctly:
“Now is the time to move from slogans to substance. Nigeria’s industrial future will be defined by how boldly we choose Nigeria first — not just in words, but in our everyday economic decisions.”
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has renewed its call for a national “Proudly Nigeria Day” to promote Made-in-Nigeria products and economic patriotism. MAN President Otunba Francis Meshioye urges the Federal Government to enforce local content policies and align national procurement with industrial growth under the “Nigeria First” agenda.
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