On MAN as organised private sector voice for manufacturers

Just recently, on Friday the 21st of April 2023; the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Anambra/Enugu/Ebonyi States Branch, held its annual event in Onitsha. The historic event was indeed an epoch-making one, with the “high and mighty” of the manufacturing sector from all nooks and crannies of the country converging for the occasion. The grand event featured (1) inauguration of 22-man elders’ committee of MAN, recognized for their numerous contributions to the manufacturing sector of the economy; (2) commissioning of MAN’s temporary liaison office for the branch, and (3) the Stakeholders Business Town hall Meeting with the Governor of Anambra State.

The high networth individuals at the occasion included Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State; the Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe and other royal fathers; the MAN national president, Francis Meshioye, with his retinue of the national executives of MAN; top government functionaries, captains of industry in and around the South Eastern geopolitical zone, very important personalities, including a team of university professors, led by the national president of the Chemical Society of Nigeria, Moses Chendo, who is billed to host the forthcoming 46th CSN annual international conference in Anambra this year. This historic occasion was of course, well packaged and successfully prosecuted at the instance of the current chairman of MAN in the tri-states branch, Lady Ada Chukwudozie; who could be rightly described as a woman of great dreams and visions, with deep understanding of the strategies for taking the regional economy, in particular, and the nation, generally, through manufacturing, to greater heights.

In her usual eloquence, this Amazon delivered a thought provoking technical paper in her speech to the audience titled, “Unlocking the Economic Potentials of the South East through guided Investment in Critical areas that affect Manufacturing”. The governor and the MAN president particularly made very valuable presentations on  burning issues in the economy, social services and  governance; especially as it involved economic growth and development through participatory contributions by members of MAN in the real sector. It is not just Anambra State, but the entire nation stands to benefit from deepening its relationships with the organised private sector (OPS), especially manufacturers (under MAN) who are strategic actors in converting raw materials to capital stock to finished and consumable products, through value addition to all the products value-chain in the economy; by creating wealth and driving innovations through research.

Manufacturers remain the credible off-takers who always guarantee strategic investments in the economy; note that all economies are characterised by the strength of their manufacturing base. The fact remains that the trajectory of the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) growth rate is determined, and majorly influenced by the economic activities going on in the manufacturing sector. This makes it imperative that the sector, through dedicated domestic manufacturing activities, wields significant contributions towards the nation’s economic growth and development, for a self-sufficient economy. This is expected to be achieved by engaging and implementing a Backward Integration policy. Invariably, a “performing government” must have overwhelming commitment by making collaborative efforts, to partner with the private sector for the wellbeing of her economy.

At this level, policy formulations and implementations require the combined and concerted efforts of the private and public sectors, to strategically plan together and harmonise critical issues around the challenges faced by manufacturers. The majority of these primarily revolve around the basic factors of production (man, material and money). Discussing further on these, “man” would constitute the labour force, other stakeholders (especially the suppliers and the consumers), the entrepreneurs, board and top management in each of the business organisations in the real sector. “Material” includes all forms of productive consumables and the direct raw materials or capital stock or natural resources. “Money” in this aspect relates to finance, which includes project capital for startups, and all necessary governmental policies, like fiscal and monetary, tariff barriers on cross-border trades, all of which affect manufacturers’ costs of production (among other issues). The challenges these manufacturers face could either be internal or external; but the government has a big role to play here, by making sure that the ease of business is guaranteed to these industry players on a level business playing ground; that takes away any obstacle that may impede a smooth running manufacturing operation.

The essence is to make all manufacturing operations very competitive among contemporaries from different economic backgrounds and climes. The other sensitive and vital issues that need addressing would have to include the following: Multiple taxations and levies; Sources and costs of power supply; Security; Provision and development of the needed infrastructure to aid seamless business operations and flow (like roads, railways, airports and seaports). All these issues are better handled corporately and collectively through an inclusive and participatory strategic style of governance, where the OPS like MAN or the Chambers of Commerce remain the voices that advocate on all governmental policies that could be hostile to the smooth running of the businesses of their registered members. This should be done in a win-win collaborative relationship with the government, which targets the achievement of common and mutual interests of the nation’s economy.

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