Nigeria''s industrial development, our priority – UNIDO

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has expressed commitment to expand cooperation with the Nigerian government to transform the country into an industrial hub. UNIDO’s representative to ECOWAS and regional director, Jean Bakole, stated this in Abuja when he presented his credentials to foreign affairs minister Geoffrey Onyeama. He stressed that the agency would […]

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has expressed commitment to expand cooperation with the Nigerian government to transform the country into an industrial hub.

UNIDO’s representative to ECOWAS and regional director, Jean Bakole, stated this in Abuja when he presented his credentials to foreign affairs minister Geoffrey Onyeama.

He stressed that the agency would work closely with Nigerian government to boost industries and reduce the dependency of the economy on oil products.

"The way the government designs its economic recovery and growth plan, which is focusing on a number of key priority sectors which include, industrialization, is clear that the country is going in right direction," he said.

"It is good news for us because that is where we will engage in a number of key projects, including supporting the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)," he added.

According to Bakole, the economy’s foundation would be strong if the government boosts the SMEs, saying that there is no way you move ahead without SMEs.

He said what is needed now is to implement plans which support sectors that have not been exploited enough to improve the economy.

This, he said, included the agro processing in the rural areas where there are huge potentials.

He noted that the agency would focus its support programmes on the youth, who he said have shown lots of skills in information technology. "We have to integrate the IT in the industrial process."

UNIDO, in collaboration with federal government, would build women’s capacity in running their small businesses, he added.

Responding, Onyeama assured the UNIDO’s boss of the ministry’s support in implementing his programmes. "We will support you to make your job easier," he said.