Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to deepening support for local production.
Shettima, represented by the Special Adviser, Special Duties, Aliyu Umar, said this at the “Made in Naija Trade Exhibition” organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Commerce in Abuja.
He said Nigeria’s economic identity and global relevance will be defined by what it creates adding that Nigeria’s future depends on the creativity, ingenuity, and enterprise of its people.
“There is nothing that advertises the pride of a nation as much as the craft, creativity and conceptions of its people,” Shettima said. “They do more than signal the capability of the people. They serve as a fertilizer of the economy. They nourish every sector and give life to dreams yet to be imagined.”
He said the gathering was more than an exhibition, it was a statement of intent.
“This is both the assurance of our readiness to make Nigerian brands appeal to the world and a promise of the government’s commitment to work with you through this journey of transformation.”
Shettima stressed that the country’s wealth does not lie in oil fields, fertile land, or mineral deposits, but in what Nigerians are able to turn those resources into.
“Our fortune is what we make of these resources, the ambition that turns potential into prosperity. It rests on the shoulders of our most valuable asset, our human capital.”
He highlighted that Nigerian brilliance has already been demonstrated in multiple sectors, from agro-processing to architecture, textiles to technology, and manufacturing to music. But he warned that creativity is not enough if Nigerians fail to support what they produce.
“It is not enough for us to produce. We must patronize what we produce. Every time we choose a product manufactured here, we are making an investment, in a Nigerian entrepreneur, an artisan, a factory worker, a young graduate building a future.”
According to him, buying Nigerian strengthens the naira, supports jobs, reduces dependence on global supply chains, and nurtures a sustainable middle class.
Yet Shettima noted that the target goes beyond self-reliance.
“Made in Nigeria must become synonymous with quality, innovation and competitiveness on the global stage. We have the resources, we have the creativity, we have the human capital. What remains is our resolve.”
The Vice President said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu considers local creators and producers as essential partners in national renewal, describing his administration as “a dreamland for those who create.”
He outlined ongoing government efforts to make Nigeria a manufacturing and innovation hub, including interventions built to remove barriers and expand market opportunities for MSMEs and local industries.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, reaffirmed the National Assembly’s full support for policies that prioritise Nigerian-made goods, saying the country’s future depends on local production, value addition, and reduced dependence on imports.
Abbas praised the initiative as a timely response to Nigeria’s urgent need for industrial growth and economic self-reliance.
He commended the committee’s chairman, Ahmed Munir, for conceptualising and delivering the exhibition, describing it as a practical expression of the nation’s industrial ambition.
“Their efforts represent a timely response to the national call for industrial growth and economic self-reliance,” Abbas said.
With the theme “Reshaping the Future of Commerce,” the exhibition aligns directly with Nigeria’s development objectives, the Speaker stated.
He said the country must now shift from an import-dependent economy to one built on domestic production, value creation, and inclusive growth, especially under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which offers huge opportunities, but only for competitive economies.
Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce, Ahmed Munir, said Nigeria stands on the brink of an industrial and economic rebirth driven by local manufacturing, innovation, and strong legislative support.
Munir said the country must now “forge prosperity with our own hands,” transforming raw potential into globally competitive products made in Nigeria.
He noted that the focus on local content is projected to create over five million new jobs by 2030, shifting Nigerian youths from the unemployment line into factories, workshops, and innovation hubs across the country.
According to him, this shift represents not just economic growth, but the “restoration of the dignity of labour.”
Munir emphasized that substituting key imports with locally made alternatives remains central to stabilizing Nigeria’s foreign reserves.
He stated that by reducing dependency on foreign goods, the country could save up to $20 billion annually in foreign exchange, a move that aligns with the strategic priorities of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The lawmaker described the non-oil sector’s expansion as “no longer aspirational, but a policy pillar,” noting that products made in Nigeria are expected to contribute an additional 5 percent to the country’s GDP within five years.
“Our vision extends beyond our borders,” he said. “Nigerian products must be ready to compete not just in Lagos, Port Harcourt, or Abuja, but in London, Beijing, and New York.”
