By Joy Baba-Yesufu
The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, under the leadership of the Honourable Minister of State, Senator John Owan Enoh, has convened a high-level roundtable with key industry stakeholders to accelerate Nigeria’s industrial transformation and enhance global competitiveness.
The engagement, which aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic agenda, focused on fast-tracking development in Presidential Priority Sectors—namely dairy, palm oil, cassava, light electronics, and tomatoes.
Senator Enoh said the session marked a shift from policy dialogue to implementation, noting that this was the first in a series of strategic conversations aimed at transforming Nigeria’s industrial base.
“This roundtable reflects our commitment to closing policy gaps, fostering synergy between industry and agriculture, and driving tangible progress. It is not a one-off event, but the beginning of sustained engagement,” Enoh stated.
He called for a focused policy framework to unlock the cassava sector’s industrial potential and highlighted plans to reclassify dairy under manufacturing to encourage local production. The Minister also emphasized collaboration with relevant regulators such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to address sector-specific challenges and promote local capacity building, especially in electronics.
Industry associations including the Dairy Association of Nigeria, Oil Palm Growers Association, Cassava Association, Light Electronics Association, and Tomato Association provided practical recommendations to improve productivity, competitiveness, and value-chain efficiency across their sectors.
In his remarks, Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, reiterated the government’s commitment to innovation, consistent data collection, and outcome-driven partnerships that would position Nigeria as a key player in Africa’s industrial renaissance.
“This dialogue sets the stage for a stronger public-private alliance and reflects our resolve to transform stakeholder inputs into measurable results,” he said.
Mrs. Muyiwa Ajayi, Director of the Industrial Development Department (IDD), summarized key takeaways, including the need for sector-specific policies, improved regulatory frameworks, and increased private sector involvement in implementation.
As Nigeria pushes for industrial revitalization, this initiative signals a renewed commitment to job creation, economic diversification, and sustainable growth.
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