Nigeria has said it will continue to promote ingenuity and industry of indigenous entrepreneurs for national economic growth.
Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment said this in Abuja on Tuesday at the opening of Exhibition of Made in Nigeria Products and Cultural Display.
The exhibition is being organised by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Nigeria @ 60, in collaboration with Business Visa and Trainings Co. Ltd to mark Nigeria @ 60.
Recall that the nation turned 60 years on Oct.1, 2020.
Considering the significance of the age in our journey to nationhood, President Muhammadu Buhari directed that the celebration should be made a year-long event to end in September, 2021.
Adebayo stated that consequently, an Inter-Ministerial Ownership Sub-Committee of the Nigeria @ 60 celebration outlined activities aimed at promoting local content and rich cultural heritage, amongst others.
He said the exhibition was focussed on drawing attention to attributes that Nigeria was endowed with that needed to be harnessed for the common good of all.
The minister noted that the products being displayed were 100 per cent Made in Nigeria by the Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) depicting the ingenuity and industry of indigenous entrepreneurs.
“You are aware of the determination of the present administration to build resilience in the nation’s economy and diversify the entire source of revenue so that we can become less dependent on only one product-oil.
“The slogan “let us grow what we eat and eat what we grow” by President Muhammadu Buhari sums up this national resolve.
“It is with a view to strengthening our economic base that deliberate effort has been made by this administration to encourage the growth of MSMEs.
“It is therefore not surprising, that in celebrating 60 years of our nationhood, the fruits of the labour of our people to create products and services deserve to be celebrated and encouraged.
“The Exhibition of Made-in-Nigeria Products will therefore further reveal the tremendous potential that abounds in our quest for self sufficiency and self reliance,’’ he said.
He noted that the tourism sector still remained largely unexploited; hence the celebration would showcase our rich cultural heritage to the world for Nigeria to become a destination of choice for tourism.
The following activities were drawn up to mark the celebration -: Exhibition of Made in Nigeria Products, Live Performance of Cultural Troupes from the six geopolitical zone of the country.
The activities include -;Essay Competition among Nigerian youths, Photo Gallery of the journey so far, Exhibition of Nigerian Cuisines and Special Nigeria @ 60 Awards to notable Nigerians.
