The Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and other key stakeholders towards creating a conducive environment for industrial growth and sustainable business development in the State.
The Commissioner for Investment, Trade, Cooperatives, and Industry, Professor Salihu Abdulwaheed Adelabu, stated this during a meeting with the leadership of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Oyo/Osun/Ondo/Ekiti States Branch, led by its Branch Chairman, Dr. Samuel O. Olawoye, at his office in the State Secretariat, Ibadan.
Professor Adelabu, while welcoming the MAN delegation, appreciated the association for its cooperation and constructive engagement with the state government, stressing the need for all relevant stakeholders to work together and chart a common path towards addressing issues affecting the manufacturing sector.
He noted that the Ministry of Investment, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry, by virtue of its responsibilities, would continue to engage manufacturers and other relevant stakeholders, emphasising that effective inter-ministerial coordination was essential to resolving issues that cut across areas such as industry, trade, markets, environment, health, safety, and other regulatory matters.
The Commissioner said there was a need to strengthen regular engagement with manufacturers, recalling that issues raised by industrial operators during recent visits to industries had provided useful insights into some of the challenges confronting the sector. He therefore expressed support for the resuscitation of a regular stakeholder meeting involving the Ministry, MAN, and other relevant government agencies.
According to him, issues relating to power supply, road access to industrial areas, environmental concerns, safety audits, and other factors affecting the competitiveness of businesses require coordinated attention. He stressed that the State Government was interested in creating an environment that would enable industries to operate, expand and contribute more significantly to employment and economic development.
Professor Adelabu further emphasised the importance of maintaining appropriate safety standards in industrial operations, noting that safety remains a fundamental component of global best practices. He, however, stressed the need for transparency and proper coordination in the implementation of regulatory processes, assuring the manufacturers that the concerns raised would receive appropriate attention.
He also disclosed that the Ministry would continue to collaborate with relevant ministries and agencies on issues affecting industrial development, noting that the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, among other stakeholders, plays an important role in creating a conducive environment for businesses and industrial activities across the State.
The commissioner called for stronger communication and a clearly defined meeting point among relevant stakeholders, saying that effective coordination would help prevent misunderstandings and facilitate faster resolution of issues affecting businesses.
Speaking at the meeting, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Engr. Dr. Ademola Aderinto, explained that the Ministry remained open to engagement with MAN and other stakeholders, encouraging the association to formally seek clarification whenever it required further information on matters within the Ministry’s purview.
Dr. Aderinto explained that the safety audit initiative was aimed at promoting occupational health and safety, environmental protection, and compliance with applicable operational standards. He noted that the exercise was designed to identify potential hazards and encourage facilities to strengthen their safety management systems and operational procedures.
He also disclosed that the Ministry had commenced initiatives aimed at recognising environmental and compliance excellence among businesses, explaining that such recognition was intended to encourage industries and other operators to continually improve their environmental standards and practices.
Earlier, the Branch Chairman of MAN, Dr. Samuel O. Olawoye, who led the delegation, read and presented the association’s letter to the Commissioner, outlining issues of concern to manufacturers and seeking stronger engagement between the association and relevant government stakeholders.
Dr. Olawoye commended the state government for its engagement with the manufacturing community and recalled the association’s earlier interactions with the ministry, stressing the importance of regular stakeholder meetings to provide a platform for addressing emerging issues affecting manufacturers.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for the state government and MAN to exchange views on matters affecting industrial operations, with both sides expressing the need for continued dialogue and constructive engagement in the interest of industrial development in Oyo State.
Packaged by Temitayo Afolabi
