The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has announced that Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, former Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), will be the distinguished guest speaker at its 6th Adeola Odutola Lecture. This announcement was made by the President of MAN, Mr. Francis Meshioye, during a press briefing on the association's 54th Annual General Meeting (AGM). The AGM is scheduled to take place in Lagos from October 5 to October 7, 2026.
The theme of this year's AGM is "Leveraging National Industrial Policy to Position Nigeria as Africa's Industrial Hub." Meshioye stated that the 6th Adeola Odutola Lecture will serve as the principal platform for examining the AGM's theme. The lecture will feature Dr. Yumkella, who will share his extensive experience in industrial and international development. His perspective is particularly relevant as Nigeria seeks to translate industrial policy into productive capacity, competitiveness, and sustainable economic development.
One of the major highlights of the three-day programme is the Made-in-Nigeria products' exhibition, which will showcase the quality, diversity, innovation, and capabilities of Nigerian manufacturers. The exhibition aims to promote patronage of Made-in-Nigeria products, facilitate business connections, and demonstrate the capacity of Nigerian manufacturers to meet the needs of both domestic and international markets. This event provides a platform for manufacturers to display their products and connect with potential customers.
In addition to the exhibition, members of MAN will participate in a value-added session with the theme "Bridging Industrial Skill Gaps with Smart and Additive Manufacturing: A Manufacturing Imperative." The session is designed to expose members to emerging manufacturing technologies and the skills required to take advantage of them. As technology continues to redefine production processes, manufacturers must pay attention to the capabilities required to improve productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness.
The value-added session will provide an opportunity for members to gain practical insights into smart and additive manufacturing and consider their relevance to the future of Nigerian industry. This is particularly important as Nigeria seeks to position itself as Africa's industrial hub. By embracing emerging technologies, manufacturers can improve their productivity and competitiveness, ultimately contributing to the country's economic growth.
The Director General of MAN, Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, expressed his optimism about the future of Nigerian manufacturing. He stated that "the road ahead for Nigerian manufacturing is promising." He also highlighted the need to tell stories of resilience, investment, policies that work, and policies that must change. This suggests that the AGM will provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the manufacturing sector.
The 54th AGM of MAN will bring together manufacturers, government officials, policymakers, development partners, and other stakeholders to examine how the National Industrial Policy can be leveraged to drive industrial growth. The event will provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the manufacturing sector and explore ways to position Nigeria as Africa's industrial hub. Dr. Yumkella's participation is expected to add value to the discussions.
Key points
- Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, former Director-General of UNIDO, will be the guest speaker at MAN's 6th Adeola Odutola Lecture.
- The 54th AGM of MAN will take place in Lagos from October 5 to October 7, 2026, with the theme "Leveraging National Industrial Policy to Position Nigeria as Africa's Industrial Hub."
- The event will feature a Made-in-Nigeria products' exhibition and a value-added session on smart and additive manufacturing.
