Group, Proudly Nigeria, Rallies Support for Made in Nigeria Products, Wants Buhari to Enforce Local Content Policy

In view of  the dwindling economic fortunes afflicting the country and the need to revive and accelerate Nigeria’s economic  growth, a group, Proudly Nigeria, has called on the citizenry to patronise made in Nigeria products and services in order to revitalize the economy.
The group is also calling on the President Mohammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to enforce the local content policy by compelling foreign companies to engage more Nigerian citizens  as a way of curbing the high unemployment rate in the country.
Speaking in Abuja, the convener of the  project, Jumai Ahmadu, said  the depreciation of the naira, high unemployment rate  and the closure of businesses in Nigeria are indications of low capacity utilisation hence the need  for government and the citizenry to refocus attention on made in Nigeria products and services.
Ahmadu, who spoke in Abuja as part of preparations for the maiden edition of Proudly Nigeria Expo scheduled for September 5-11, 2016, in Abuja, said sustained advocacy had become imperative in order “to tame the appetite of most Nigerians for foreign products”.
“The question will be why should we be proudly Nigeria in what we buy and the services we patronise? Here’s why: Experts are agreed that buying Nigeria stimulates the local economy given that all economic growth starts at the community level.
“Patronising local goods helps the farmer, trader, artisan to stay in business. Why should people buy imported eggs when the nutritional value is not different from eggs produced locally? Why should scarce forex be used for goods that can be produced locally and drive our economy for imported ones?”, the group queried.
She said the  7-day event would showcase the potential and opportunities that exist in Nigeria, trainings and start-ups and small businesses generally.
The event is  endorsement by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), Ministry of Trade and Investment, Abuja Enterprise Agency, Abuja Technology Village, FCT Social Development Secretariat among others.