Nigerian manufacturers must move beyond importing foreign machinery and begin developing indigenous technology to remain competitive in the global market. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), delivered this charge at the opening of the Propak West Africa Exhibition in Victoria Island, Lagos. Represented by Mrs. Oluchi Odimuko, Director of Sectoral Regulatory Affairs, Ajayi-Kadir stressed that importing equipment for display and adoption is no longer sufficient for sustainable industrial growth.
Addressing the event’s theme on unlocking growth in food processing and packaging, the MAN leadership highlighted these sectors as central pillars of the manufacturing economy rather than peripheral activities. Processing and packaging directly link local agriculture to regional markets while stimulating demand across connected industries, including chemicals, plastics, paper, glass, logistics, and retail. Advanced packaging and labeling improve product traceability, boost market competitiveness, and strengthen the entire manufacturing value chain.
Despite Nigeria possessing one of Africa’s largest consumer markets, severe operational bottlenecks continue to constrain industrial output. High energy costs, limited access to long-term finance, transport infrastructure deficits, technical skill gaps, and uncoordinated regulatory policies continue to inflate the cost of doing business. Addressing these challenges requires systemic, multi-stakeholder interventions across the entire ecosystem.
Industry leaders echoed these concerns throughout the summit. Alex Gendis, Managing Director of Beta Glass, called on financial institutions to extend patient capital to processors rather than prioritising short-term trading loans. He also urged universities to align technical training with industry needs and advocated for harmonised regional standards to facilitate frictionless trade across West Africa. Similarly, Mark Anderson, Portfolio Director at Montgomery Group Africa, noted that while Nigeria’s packaging market reached 920 million US dollars in 2025, capital disbursements alone cannot unlock its full potential without urgent improvements in power, logistics, and localised technological innovation.
