D-G urges Nigerians to patronise locally made goods

Hajia A’isha Hassan, the Director-General, Sokoto State Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency (SOSMEDA) on Monday advised Nigerians to emulate the Federal Ministry of Defence, by patronising Made-in-Nigeria goods.

Hassan gave the advice in an interview with our reporter in Sokoto.

She said the ministry had procured 3,000 pairs of shoes at the cost of N30 million from the Nigerian Leather Institute, Sokoto, to enhance local production.

The official said that such patronage would stimulate local production and encourage mass production of locally made goods.

She said the shoes would be distributed to workers in the ministry.

Hassan said the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali had since inspecting the items produced by the institute, along with others produced by various manufacturers in the country.

The director-general said various items being produced locally were of very high quality and could compete with those produced abroad.

She urged government at all tiers, wealthy individuals and Nigerians at large, to patronise locally produced goods.

Hassan said that such mass patronage would boost employment and revenue as well as general economic growth in the country.

According to her, the recent certificates awarded to 11 indigenous manufacturers in Sokoto and Zamafara by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) will revive business activities in the two states.

She advised manufacturers to duly certify their products for exports and patronage in Nigeria.

The official and expressed her agency’s readiness to partner local manufacturers to facilitate certification of locally produced goods.

Hassan urged them to approach the Corporate Affairs Commission, National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, Nigeria Export Promotion Council and other regulatory bodies, to facilitate products’ certification.

She said that 17 manufactures were selected to enjoy more Federal Government’s support in Sokoto State, urging them to utilise the advantages to export and market their products locally.