There is urgency in the need for Africa to industrialise and cease being a dumping site for industrial, commercial and consumer products from other countries.

According to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, industrialisation of Africa will serve a dual purpose of socioeconomic empowerment through job creation and wealth generation opportunities for the people and enhanced revenue generation for government for sustainable development of economy and provision of infrastructure and social services.
He says the present administration is not unmindful of the potentials available for socioeconomic growth and regeneration, especially with the status as the hub of socioeconomic and industrial activities in Nigeria and the ECOWAS sub region.
Sanwo-Olu noted that government was committed to enhancing potentials through partnerships with the private sector, and the provision of incentives and implementing policies that encourage more entrepreneurs to jump on the industrialisation train.
He urged upcoming entrepreneurs to take advantage of the opportunities provided through relevant government agencies.
According to him, industrialisation is about adding value to the abundant primary products blessed with for greater and more rewarding returns through local consumption and exports, as industrialisation is the key that will unlock the potentials for growth of an economic regeneration.
He said he recognize the efforts of the United Nations through the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation in synergising with the African Continent to implement strategies for the industrialisation of the economy with the abundant natural resources and human capital available to change narrative as a people.
The Governor spoke through Secretary to the Government, Folasade Jaji at the four-day event to mark this year Africa Industrialists Week to commemorate this year’s Africa Industrialisation Day organised by Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives.
In her welcome remark, Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives, Lola Akande, said Lagos State has joined the rest of Africa to commemorate this Year’s Africa Industrialisation Day, celebrated in line with the declaration by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African Unity in Addis Ababa in nineteen-eighty-nine.
According to her, the theme for this year; “Industrialising Africa: Renewed commitment towards an Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialisation and Economic Diversification” is apt and timely.
In her words, the theme is a pointer to the fact that internal policies must be evolved that would act as a catalyst for local industries to facilitate industrialisation and economic diversification.
She also reminded of the need to begin to work out strategies that would give comparative advantages as a nation in view of the Africa Free Continental Free Trade Agreement, AFCTA which Nigeria keyed into July, twenty-nineteen in Niamey.
According to her, it is expected that once AFCTA is fully implemented, it with create a single African market for goods and services, covering an estimated 1.2 billion people with a combined GDP of USD2.5 trillion across 55 member states.

In her words, as a responsive government they are aware of the challenges of industrialisation and for this reason it has continuously evolved policy initiatives and programmes to boost the potentials of the private sector and creating a conducive business environment.
She stated that the State has also consistently supported the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through its participation in the International Trade Fair and devoting an annual fair to them to exhibit their skills, creativity and innovations.

The commissioner noted that in consideration of the need to promote MSMEs, government is presently developing a Light Industrial Park on a 22-hectare land at Imota in Ikorodu Division of the State, saying apart from the forty-four factory units of various sizes, the Park is also equipped with other ancillary services such as staff canteen, Fire Service Station, clinic, water booster station, one storey administrative building and gate house, informing that the project is at 87% completion stage and allocation of factory units would commence as soon as the project is delivered.

Furthermore, two out of the three existing Small Scale Industrial Estates situated in Isolo and Ladipo were approved for renovation to provide a conducive environment for productive activities. I wish to authoritatively confirm to you that works on the Isolo facility has been completed while the other one would be delivered in the first quarter of year 2022.

As facilitators and enabler of industrial development, plans are under way for the establishment of a Small Scale Industrial Estate at Gberigbe in Ikorodu as a mean providing additional work stations for small and medium scale industrialists to encourage entrepreneurship and job creation. The concept design and costing has been completed for further evaluation to ensure the timely commencement of the project.
I wish to also intimate you that the Ministry is making concerted effort at ensuring that innovative youths are encouraged through mentoring and sponsorship of their projects for commercialisation.

Therefore, at this forum, we have taken a step further to include the exhibition of locally fabricated machines and equipment and innovative projects from Lagos Schools as a means of creating the desired linkages between machine producers, manufacturers of goods and the end users.

Therefore, I enjoin all stakeholders here present to take advantage of this opportunity and make efforts to create the necessary synergy that would lead to value addition on our path to industrialisation, economic recovery and growth.
On his part, Special Adviser,
Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives, Oladele Ajayi says over the years the event had become a veritable platform to showcase the great potentials of student’s innovation, locally fabricated machines and made in Lagos goods.
According to him, the Business Sessions have also assisted many of the startups and existing industrialists to grow their businesses and create requisite linkages for sustainable development.
He appreciated government for sustaining the event which is geared towards encouraging emerging industrialists and locally processed goods and saluted the courage of industrialists for their perseverance in the face of many huddles and yet, striving to remain in business despite the socio-economic challenges.
According to him, this year’s event would be an improvement on the previous ones as government is not relenting in its effort at sustaining the growth of MSMEs.
He enjoined all to take advantage of every segment of the event as a means of growing their businesses and developing theirselves for the common good of the economy and the State, wishing all the participants rewarding exhibition and fruitful deliberations.