… Wants community content in oil & gas industry
Mkpoikana Udoma
31 October 2017, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – The Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, PHCCIMA, has urged the federal and state governments to intensify efforts towards encouraging entrepreneurship development and Made-in-Nigeria goods for economic stimulation, wealth creation and employment generation.
President of PHCCIMA, Dr. Emi Membere-Otaji, who made this remark at the International Christian Business Exhibition and Conference 2017 in Port Harcourt, maintained that Made-in-Nigeria would be a direct message that Nigerian government is open for business as a country and to discourage capital flight.
Membere-Otaji, said Made-in-Nigeria goods is a direct invitation to foreign investors and partners to set up manufacturing sites/base in Nigeria and make Nigeria their production hub.
“In adopting a Made-In-Nigeria economic strategic plan, Nigeria is investing in an end game with a win-win outcome because it will promote home-made goods as a substitute for imported goods, and reduce pressure on foreign currency demand, which ultimately increases capacity and competitiveness for export earnings.
“Made in Nigeria effort will also reposition Nigeria as a producing economy in the medium to long term once power and other infrastructural support come on stream and also expand capacity for job creation and structured funding of new sectors that have grown without government support such as arts, creative and entertainment industry, fashion and culture, technology, crafts and farming,” he said.
The PHCCIMA boss, represented by the first Deputy President of the Chamber, Mr. Nabil Saleh, explained that efforts to encourage Made in Nigeria goods and development of entrepreneurs have been part of the cardinal objective of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce as an organisation.
“We have contributed in no small measure in encouraging and mentoring business enterprises, supporting ventures and providing opportunities that has contributed in invigorating our local and national economy.
“PHCCIMA has been frontal in providing relevant business information, encouraging business linkages, networking and facilitating foreign direct investments as part of value for our teeming membership,” he said.
In his keynote address, a former Chairman of Pfizer/Neimeth Board of Directors, Dr. Sam Ohuabunwa, said Nigeria has underperformed in her 57 years of existence, which was why the country is brandished the 3rd most miserable economy in the world, with 75percent poverty rate and ranked 152 in the world’s least human development indices countries.
Ohuabunwa, however, said the solution to the heartrending ratings is for the country to dwell on the positives and brace up to unyielding competitiveness, adding that Nigeria must be open to trending global technology and begin to develop creative thinking which is the spur of the moment.
He said Nigerians must identify entrepreneurship as capable of helping Nigeria to reverse the trend, adding that government must take a critical step to engage in entrepreneurship development, capacity building, research and global competitiveness.
“There is urgent need to consciously propel the Nigerian economy through stimulating the manufacturing sector and also developing entrepreneurship modules in a government and private sector synergy”, he said.
“As a people we can start creating jobs rather than seeking for job, how? By identifying problems, finding the solution and implementing the solutions which basically translates to employment creation.”
Also speaking, the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, said the Rivers State Micro-Finance Agency in accordance with the mandate of the present administration has put in place programmes geared towards supporting entrepreneurship and innovative thinking.