MAN hosts 2021 edition of ‘MAN Reporter Of The Year Award’

 

• Highlights challenges in manufacturing sector
• MAN to celebrate 50th Anniversary this year

 The Manufacturers Association Of Nigeria (MAN) today hosted the 2021 edition of the Man Reporter Of The Year Award/Presidential Media Luncheon at Man House, 77 Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos.

In his address, Engr. Mansur Ahmed, President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (Man), expressed his deep appreciation to the media for constantly championing the course of the manufacturing sector through in-depth reportage of the Association’s activities on various media platforms.

Engr Ahmed said “Our annual engagement has proved to be very useful as it has provided me the opportunity of not only appreciating you for a job well done but also to share first hand, the pulse of the manufacturing sector as well as get feedback from you.”

Commenting on the award entries, the MAN President said “The feedback received from the team of assessors of your entries is very encouraging, judging from the intellectual creativity deployed in presenting the views of the Association through written and broadcast messages on your respective platforms. This says a lot about your level of commitment to the growth and development of the manufacturing sector and the economy in general.”

He affirmed that the “MAN Reporter of the Year Award” has come to stay as this is one of the many ways the Association can acknowledge media’s contribution to it and of course reward excellence.

Engr Ahmed, stated that the year 2020 was quite challenging partly due to some perennial issues bedeviling the sector and others thrown up by COVID-19 pandemic and the hijacked EndSARS demonstration which placed immense pressure on the social and economic structures of the economy.

“Significant amongst the challenges faced by manufacturers are difficulty in accessing forex to procure raw materials not locally available; high cost of electricity/power; high cost of transportation; low demand of commodity; difficulty in accessing funds; regulatory Issue from numerous regulatory agencies; poor port administration and unavailability of raw materials; policy somersaults, but to mention a few.

“The implication of these challenges highlighted is that it impedes the growth and development of the manufacturing sector, thereby affecting the attainment of the sector’s full potential of massive job and wealth creation.

“Nonetheless, MAN commends the Government on the decision to reopen the land borders for ease of trade engagements particularly under the implementation phase of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which took effect from January 1, 2021.

“The AfCFTA has the potential to build Africa’s capacity to manufacture and change the narrative of African economy and give Africa a stronger voice and positioning in the global economy as we go on.

“More so, I am confident that there will be a tremendous opportunity for growth and development for each and every one if the countries that signed this agreement are willing to come together to make it a success. But this cannot come without challenges.

“A possible challenge that stares us in the face is the issue of dumping.   The dumping issue frankly is a matter of political will. Do our governments and political leaders have the political will to agree on those things that we have to do? For instance, to ensure that we do not allow dumping to take place, there is a need to ensure that all countries operate based on the rule of origin that has been agreed. But the difference is that while some countries will ensure that these regulations are complied with, others unfortunately will not do so. This calls for effective monitoring mechanism to be put in place to ensure that all countries do the right thing.”

According to him, the Association has conducted series of webinar workshops for members to get them fully prepared to take advantage of the opportunities that are imbedded in the agreement; while trusting that the Nigerian government will play its part to put adequate measures in place for a beneficial trade agreement.

“We look forward to an effective National Action Committee on the AfCFTA,” he added.

The MAN’s President cited the quarterly research, aggregate Manufacturers CEOs Confidence Index (MCCI) which shows that the CEOs confidence oscillated under the 50 neutral points: 44.4 points in Q1; 40.2 points in Q2: 43.3 points in Q3; and then 42.06 in Q4 2020.

He lamented that the trend is a strong indication of lack of confidence of manufacturers in the economy in the whole of 2020 and that the manufacturing sector is indeed gasping for breath.

“As we project for improvement in 2021, it is imperative that the management of the macro economy is approached more pragmatically and the development of the productive capacities of nation is intentionally enhanced,” he stressed.

He announced on behalf of the National Council of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), that the great Association will be marking its 50th Anniversary this year with series of activities and events.

The President of MAN, also congratulated the Director General of MAN, Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir, mni on his sojourn for advanced studies and for bagging the prestigious mni appellation.

“I am pleased to welcome him back after 10 months of rigorous study at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos where he bagged the prestigious mni appellation,” Engr Ahmed enthused.

High point of the event is the presentation of awards to the winners as follows: Radio Category Winner,  Mrs Ebere Obike of Radio Nigeria, Winner Television  Category,  Mr Abiola Ismail of MITV, Winner of Online Category,  Mr Franklin  Ali of Industrial  Digest, Winner  of Photojournalist  category,  Mr Olawale Amoo of Business  Day, and Winner of Newspaper Category,  Mr Odinaka Anudu of Business Day.