*The National Orientation Agency says consumers鈥� patronage of Made in Nigeria products against their foreign substitutes is a strategic means to encourage local industries and grow the country鈥檚 economy

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

In a strategic move to further encourage local industries and grow the Nigerian economy, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on Nigerians to jettison their preference for foreign goods and patronise locally made products.

绿帽献妻 reports Mr. Charles Nwoji, State Director of NOA, in Anambra State, South-East region, stated this Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at a press conference in Awka, Anambra State capital.

The Anambra State Director of the regulatory agency described the patronage of locally made products against their foreign substitutes as a strategic means to encourage local industries and also grow the country鈥檚 economy.

According to the state NOA boss, the economy of any nation grows rapidly when locally made products and services are promoted and patronised by its citizenry.

He said: 鈥淎 nation needs to first patronise its own products to grow its economy, if the people are sure and proud of their products and services.鈥�

Nwoji said that at different times in the past, NOA had engaged various stakeholders and sectors at all levels in Anambra on the matter.

鈥淭he engagement was to promote the local products by asking people to consume what they produce.

鈥淪o, we focused on the need to ensure that the Nnewi Industrial Zone was provided adequate power supply for its industrial needs.鈥�

Acording to him, the agency also engaged in the advocacy in order to enhance productivity.

There is a need for a sustained national campaign, continuous sensitisation and re-orientation of Nigerians, especially Anambra people, to change their attitude towards locally made products, the NOA chief stated.

He as well said that Nigeria needed strong advocacy 鈥渢o revive the moribund industries in order to create job opportunities and restore the pride of Nigeria as a nation.鈥�

In the long run, he noted, the advocacy would help to boost the country鈥檚 foreign reserve and promote the Nigerian spirit.

鈥淐harity, they say, begins at home, and truly no nation will develop when its economy is at the mercy of foreign products and services,鈥� Nwoji stated.

He further said that most Nigerians suffer the desire-for-foreign goods syndrome because of social symbol and claim that foreign products are superior to their locally made substitutes.

Although the claim might not be totally wrong, it is worrisome and economically dangerous to abandon locally made products in preference for foreign goods, he said.

Nwoji also stated: 鈥淭he worst is that manufactures in reaction to the development have resorted to deceptive branding of their products with foreign labels and tags.

鈥淭his translates to giving credit for quality products that were produced in Nigeria to other countries.鈥�

The consequence of identity product theft is capable of leading to capital flight and a decline in the country鈥檚 Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Nwoji said that NOA was ready to continue to encourage Nigerian manufacturers to take pride in their own products.

According to him, the agency is encouraging the local industries to make themselves competitive by producing quality goods that would stand the test of time.

He added: 鈥淥ur local manufacturers need to appropriately and beneficially showcase Nigerian products and services to the world.鈥�

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