United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has renewed its commitment to the industrial growth of Nigeria even as it has drawn 9-point components to achieve this.
The components are Industrial policy, focus on special economic zone, SMEs and private sector development, Agro Industry, Science and Technology, Energy, Environment, Mineral and Trade capacity building
The Regional Director, Nigeria and West Africa, Jean Bakole rolled out the components when officials of the Nigeria Quality Infrastructure Forum (NiQIF) paid him a courtesy call at United Nations building, Abuja
He said the move was to complement the industrialization agenda of the Federal Government stressing that Nigeria is very important to the industrialization agenda of Africa and UNIDO will always support government to achieve this.
Bakole commended the Federal Government for its industrial development efforts adding “We are happy that the Federal Government chose UNIDO as a technical partner”.
NiQIF was formed to sustain the gains of European Union funded UNIDO- National Quality Infrastructure Project (NQIP) after the life span of the programme in Nigeria, January 2019.
He said further: “Nigeria is one the countries that are committed to industrial development. Without accelerated industrialization, there cannot be meaningful development, this is why we at UNIDO commend Nigeria for its economic recovery and growth plans, and we are exploring all means to help the government of Nigeria.”
Expatiating on the components, the Regional Director said the choice of Agro Industry as one of the components was because of the huge potentials Nigeria has in the Agricultural sector. On Energy, he revealed that the focus would be on renewable energy adding that mini-hydro plants have been mapped out by his organization.
Bakole told the team that they have the responsibility of continuing where the EU funded UNIDO-NQIP stopped and consolidate on the gains of the project.
According to him, Nigerians should take their destiny in their hands by working tirelessly for the industrial development of their country, while not compromising quality.
Speaking during the courtesy call, the President of NiQIF, Engineer Yerima Abdulrasheed commended the European Union and UNIDO for making NQIP possible and the successes recorded by the project.
He explained that Nigeria has benefited immensely from the project which gave birth so some institutions needed to ensure quality in the country, including Nigeria metrology Institute.
Yerima also commended European Union funded UNIDO -NQIP for the National Quality Awards which is one of the gains of the project. He also commended UNIDO-NQIP for training of many Nigerians and its capacity building efforts which has promoted quality culture in Nigeria stressing that sustainable development cannot be achieved without the quality culture taking its roots in any society.
NiQIF President said the Forum intends to take the culture of quality to schools so that the young ones will know the importance of quality in any field they choose in future.
He said further: ‘’ we shall be creating massive national awareness on quality. Our Forum will be organizing seminars and workshops across the 36 states of the federation; we want to deepen quality culture in Nigeria”
Yerima solicited for the cooperation and support of UNIDO in this area and other programmes lined up by his Forum.
In her remarks, UNIDO-NQIP Publicist, Mrs. Moji Makanjuola said: “Nigeria is our country; we should brace up and face the reality instead of relying on donors. We have to take our destiny in our hands and work as a team for the development of our country”
