FG reaffirms commitment to NIRP, seeks more input
By Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja
08 February 2025 | 4:43 pm
The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has said it is open to suggestions and recommendations that could refine its approaches to promoting industrialisation and investment in the country.
It, however, reiterated that the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), launched in 2014, a plan that focused on backward integration strategies leveraging Nigeria’s raw materials to boost manufacturing, reduce import dependence, and create sustainable employment, remains the cornerstone of the country’s industrialisation agenda.
Speaking when he received participants of the “Strategic Management and Policy Studies Course 7/24″ from the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC),” the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Amb. Nura Rimi, restated the commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s economic landscape through support for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), industrial growth, and foreign direct investment.
The participants were in the ministry as part of their study tour to gain insight into the critical role of SMEs in job creation and national productivity through backward integration.
Rimi, who spoke through the Director of the Federal Produce Inspection Service, Mr. Dafang Sule, noted that the participants’ visit underscored the significance of fostering inter-agency synergy and policy development and called for continuous partnership to advance Nigeria’s economic frontiers.
He highlighted the importance of collaboration between key institutions in driving national development, as strategic initiatives not only enhance institutional knowledge but also foster partnerships that could shape policy implementation.
The Director of Human Resource Development at NARC, Brig.-Gen. Abimbola Yussuph, who led the participants, acknowledged the ministry’s pivotal role in advancing entrepreneurship and investment opportunities.
Yussuph said the visit provided an invaluable opportunity for the participants to understand and integrate economic strategies into national security frameworks.
The delegation, comprising high-ranking officials, including Major Generals, Air Commodores, representatives from the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Customs Service, and other agencies, highlighted the broad-based interest in economic policy as a tool for national development.
During an interaction between the participants and the officials of the ministry, Chief Industrial Officer Popoola Abimbola provided a comprehensive overview of efforts to empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), explaining sector-specific policies designed to enhance productivity and economic diversification.
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