Participants at a round table organised by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) Thursday in Birnin Kebbi asserted that the fear of low quality goods has been the major challenge driving away Nigerians from patronising made-in-Nigeria products.
In continuation of its nationwide consultations on challenges and prospects of locally produced goods, the agency appraised its mandate and concluded that Nigerians don’t patronise made in Nigeria goods as they should naturally do.
Some contributors at the gathering were emphatic that massive, incisive and sustained public enlightenment is desired among Nigerians to dissuade them to discard long time notion, rightly or wrongly, that made-in-Nigeria products are of low quality, fake or badly fabricated.
The representative of NASENI, Muhammad Ndaman, appraised the mandate and mission of NASENI, saying the agency houses 12 institutes throughout the federation, strategically located on marketing, education, agriculture, electricity and other sectors.
“We have Scientific Development Institute, Enugu and Minna, creating laboratory equipment for science students at secondary and tertiary levels, NASENI is also managing Agricultural Machinery Development Institutes in Katsina, Kebbi, Ebonyi and Cross River.
“They are strategically established to modernise farming and agricultural system to meet the challenges of the sector.
“NASENI is saddled with the development and maintaining dynamic strategy of empowering manufacturing to drive indigenous industrialisation, job creation and national progress.” Ndaman said.
At the forum, NASENI unveiled a hybrid Hilux vehicle using both electric and fuel as sources of power, assembled locally by the agency.
“NASENI signed an agreement with a reputable Chinese manufacturing firm which dispatched semi and completely knocked down parts to Nigeria that were put together by NASENI to produce this hybrid, fuel efficient and flawless Hilux vehicle.
“As part of the deal, China will transfer the technology to Nigeria, while NASENI will send its engineers for further training and in the course of time, Nigeria will begin the complete manufacture of the vehicle brand,” Ndaman added.
Some participants at the forum, Abdulmutallib AbdULKARIM of Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic, Birnin Kebbi, and Dr. Badamasi of the Federal University, Birnin Kebbi, strongly advised the political class to imbibe sincerity of purpose and goodwill in encouraging the production and patronage of made-in-Nigeria goods, as well as mobilise the public to shun the belief that foreign items are better in quality.