Matthew Asabor
Lagos –- The National leadership of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has said that industrialisation is a primary driver of economic growth and job creation, and will be pivotal in efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Africa Union’s Agenda 2063.
In a statement, the President, NUPENG, Comrade William Akporeha stressed that the Union is deeply pleased and elated to lend its voice in reigniting consciousness in the minds of all stakeholders towards a purposeful development as the continent commemorates the 2020 edition of the Africa Industrialization Day, which is being observed on November 20 of every calendar year.
“As a trade Union body and also a socially responsible organisation, we found it appropriate and worthwhile to encourage Africa to leverage its abundant human and natural resources with creativity and innovation to fast-track industrialization, economic development and regional integration with cooperation as well as sincerity of purpose to engender faster collective growth and prosperity”
“Consequently, African leaders, policy makers, captains of industries, employers of labour and the citizenry must work in synergy and continue to highlight the links between industrial development and Africa’s moves towards establishing a continental free trade area, these are mutually supportive endeavours that shouldn’t be trivialized” he stated.
Akporeha noted that there is a need for strategic investments in cross-border infrastructure so as to consciously advance both trade and industrial capacity, promoting green technologies and low-carbon solutions, as all of these will help to create compelling opportunities for increased commerce and industrialization alike.
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He revealed that small and medium scale enterprises contribute 80 per cent of the continent’s Gross Domestic Product and also its support of 90 percent to all jobs will remain key factors which governments, business and civil society will need to partner in order to spur innovation and create incentives to power sustainable growth.
He emphasized that it will be critical to unleash the capacities of Africa’s young people and to strengthen its institutions and more importantly the 2030 and 2063 Agenda must recognize and embrace these imperatives.
“On Africa Industrialization Day 2020, NUPENG once again urges all critical players to foster strong commitment towards supporting Africa’s industrialization, the implementation of a continental free trade agreement, and the building of inclusive, resilient, peaceful and prosperous societies for all” he said.
