Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to President Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on Media and Publicity, has called on Nigerian consumers to shift their mindset and support locally-produced goods, particularly in the agricultural sector. He emphasized that this change is crucial for boosting revenue and creating jobs in the country. Adesina made these remarks during a one-day seminar and exhibition themed “Re-orientation towards ensuring preference and consumption of domestic agro-allied products,” organized by Zakclair Investment Limited. He was represented at the event by Tolu Ogunlesi, the Special Assistant to the President on New Media.
Adesina explained that a nation cannot truly develop its production capacity if its economy relies heavily on imported products. He noted that many of the world’s developed nations have economies grounded in local production. Furthermore, he pointed out that excessive importation is placing a significant strain on Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves. He stated, “We must also be willing to innovate with our local products in ways that can get us a wider audience. Instead of expending scarce resources and importing goods and services, we can channel them to create jobs for people. We need to believe more in the value of what is indigenous to us, as a people.”
He added that consuming locally made products would alleviate pressure on foreign exchange and contribute to job creation through local value addition. Adesina highlighted the potential of Nigeria’s large market, comprising 200 million people, and expressed optimism about the opportunities for domestic products.
In his keynote address, Prof. Garba Sharabutu, the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, urged stakeholders to move beyond mere rhetoric in promoting the consumption of made-in-Nigeria products. He stressed the importance of translating words into action. Earlier, Adelabu Abdulrazak, the CEO of Zakclair Investment Ltd, pointed out the need to focus on the preference and consumption of locally-made products, especially in light of the country’s struggling economy. He advocated for a national discourse aimed at fostering patriotism, encouraging supportive policies, reorienting citizens, and significantly stimulating economic growth.
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