Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, represented by his Deputy, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to strengthening and supporting the manufacturing sector.

Addressing the  industry leaders at the 37th Annual General Meeting of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Enugu, Anambra, and Ebonyi Branch, which drew key players from the regional manufacturing ecosystem and provided a platform for critical conversations on boosting industrial productivity, addressing sectoral challenges, and expanding opportunities for manufacturers across the Southeast region, Barr. Ossai commended the manufacturers for their continued resilience and invaluable contributions to the region’s economic development.

He described the sector as a cornerstone of societal growth and emphasized that the Enugu State government remains committed to working closely with MAN to advance shared economic goals.

“We are here today because of the important work most of you have been doing in your private capacity as manufacturers. As a government, we cannot but, recognize the value you bring to our society.    

"On behalf of a grateful people, I thank all manufacturers gathered in this room,” he said.

Ossai highlighted the importance of fostering a strong partnership between the manufacturing sector and tertiary institutions to strengthen research and development capacity, a critical foundation for successful backward integration.
“Silicon Valley is Silicon Valley, because of Stanford. What we need is a partnership between our schools and the manufacturing industry to support research and development. Without strengthening this base, backward integration will remain difficult,” he stressed.

Addressing financial and policy challenges faced by manufacturers, Ossai expressed concern over the limitations posed by the current 30% value addition requirement on raw materials and the high cost of financing in Nigeria. He called for a review of the policy and a more pragmatic approach to financing industrial growth.

“A 30%–37% cost of finance for business cannot work in this country. We must approach financing from a different perspective. While institutions like the Bank of Industry offer single-digit loans, the rigorous processes make them inaccessible to many manufacturers,” he noted.

He advocated for the establishment of regional offices for government-owned development banks to foster closer relationships with manufacturers and ease access to financing.

On power generation, one of the major challenges facing Nigerian manufacturers, Ossai encouraged MAN members to explore the new opportunities created by recent constitutional amendments that decentralized power and railway operations.
“Power provision should now be seen as a business opportunity. State governments can now license captive power providers. We are willing to collaborate with manufacturers and help de-risk investments in the power sector,” he said.

The Deputy Governor further underscored the Enugu State government’s substantial investment in education as part of its long-term industrial development strategy. He disclosed that the state has consistently allocated 30–33% of its total budget to education over the last two years to address gaps in skills and workforce readiness.

“Without education, there will be no skilled manpower for the industries we are asking you to bring home. Our smart green schools, digital skills programs, and other reforms demonstrate that we are not just talking, we are doing,” he added.

Ossai reaffirmed the government’s open-door policy and its readiness to collaborate with the Manufacturers Association to ensure the region becomes a thriving hub for industrial activity.

He concluded by thanking MAN for choosing Enugu as the host state for its 37th Annual General Meeting and encouraged continuous engagement with the state government for sustainable growth.