MAN To Collaborate With FG On Industrial Dev

The Manufacturers Asso
ciation of Nigeria (MAN) has reiterated its commitment to seek collaborative efforts with the Federal Government on the training of manpower that would fit appropriately into the manufacturing needs of the country.
This was disclosed on Monday in Lagos by the National President of MAN, Dr Frank Jacobs, while speaking to newsmen on the activities of the Association.
Jacobs said that the Association would collaborate with the nation’s research institutes to ensure adequate Local raw materials development.   The MAN Boss asserted that the manufacturing sector would strategically be positioned to make meaningful contribution to the nation’s economy.
He said that the Association believes that with the involvement of the state governments and the practical implementation of the newly launched National Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&1) policy across all strata, the country will in no distant future be at the threshold of scientific and technological breakthrough.
He  said that the Association wants a significant reduction in the average percentage of raw materials / inputs utilized by member companies of the Association in the country.
The MAN boss called on Federal Government to establish a Raw Material Research and Development Council that is manufacturing sector driven in its drive for raw materials development and chaired by MAN to strategically position the sector.
Jacobs further urged the Federal government to give accelerated attention to the issue of backward integration through appropriate policy conceptualization and implementation, stressing that this would assist development of Local substitutes of industrial raw materials and inputs that are presently being imported.