L-R: Director-General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir; National Chairman, Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Taiwo Hassan,and President MAN, Otunba Francis Meshioye, during the 2025 MAN Personality Award event, held in Lagos, yesterday.
By Kayode Olopade
The National Chairman of the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN), Comrade Taiwo Hassan, has called on the Federal Government to ensure policy stability and consistency to enable Nigeria’s manufacturing sector thrive amid prevailing economic challenges.
Hassan made the call on Wednesday at the 10th edition of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Media Personality of the Year Award and Presidential Media Luncheon, held at MAN House, Ikeja, Lagos.
He described the manufacturing sector as a critical driver of Nigeria’s economic growth and transformation, noting that frequent policy reversals by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have continued to disrupt business operations, revenue generation and overall productivity of local manufacturers.
According to him, the sector remains a vital livewire of the Nigerian economy, playing a central role in revitalising the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and supporting economic emancipation, especially at a time when the country is seeking to diversify away from oil dependence.
Hassan referenced a recent report by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), which indicated that Nigeria recorded a historic $6.1 billion in non-oil exports in 2025, describing the feat as a major milestone in economic diversification efforts.
He commended MAN and its members for their contributions to the achievement, stressing that manufacturers remain key stakeholders in driving growth in the non-oil sector.
The CICAN chairman also expressed optimism about the Federal Government’s “Nigeria First” policy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, pledging that CICAN would continue to partner with MAN to ensure the policy is fully implemented for the benefit of the manufacturing sector and the broader economy.
While congratulating MAN on sustaining the Media Personality Awards for a decade, Hassan noted that the initiative has significantly strengthened commerce and industry journalism in Nigeria across print, broadcast and online platforms.
He disclosed that he had personally won the award five times, describing it as one of the most impactful recognitions for journalists covering the manufacturing sector.
However, he appealed to MAN’s leadership to commercialise the awards by allowing major manufacturing companies to sponsor them, with improved monetary incentives for winners.
According to him, increasing the first prize to between N500,000 and N1 million would boost participation, professionalism and competitiveness among journalists reporting the manufacturing sector, citing the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), which awards over N1 million to outstanding maritime reporters annually.
Hassan further called for the repositioning of CICAN as a continental hub for manufacturing reportage, aligning with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.
He said the association intends to strengthen collaborations with manufacturing bodies across West Africa and Africa, positioning CICAN to play a leadership role similar to MAN’s influence within the Pan-African Manufacturers Association (PAMA).
In addition, the CICAN chairman announced plans to introduce a nationwide “Made-in-Nigeria Media Day,” aimed at promoting local production and consumption.
He said the initiative would be implemented in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), MAN, NACCIMA, NECA, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and other key agencies.
Activities for the proposed celebration would include wearing locally made fabrics, exhibitions and nationwide media awareness campaigns in support of the Federal Government’s Made-in-Nigeria initiative.
Hassan thanked MAN for sustaining the Media Personality Awards over the past decade and assured the association of CICAN’s continued support in advocacy and positive, development-driven reportage of the manufacturing sector.
He also congratulated winners of the 2026 MAN Media Personality Awards and reaffirmed CICAN’s commitment to promoting Nigeria’s industrial growth through responsible journalism.
No comments:
Post a Comment