Unveiling of #BuyNaija2GrowNaija
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THE ‘FLAG-OFF OF THE BUSINESS STAKEHOLDERS ADVOCACY ENGAGEMENT PROJECT
Unveiling of #BuyNaija2GrowNaija
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WELCOME ADDRESS AT THE ‘FLAG-OFF OF THE BUSINESS STAKEHOLDERS ADVOCACY ENGAGEMENT PROJECT
WELCOME ADDRESS AT THE ‘FLAG-OFF OF THE BUSINESS STAKEHOLDERS ADVOCACY ENGAGEMENT PROJECT’ ON THE 19TH NOVEMBER, 2020 AT THE OBAFEMI AWOLOWO HALL, NICON LUXURY HOTEL, ABUJA
Presented by Mr. Chimene Samuel Paul, Executive Director / Chief Host, Nigeria Market
PROTOCOLS
Let me, on behalf of the BOT, Staff and Members of AIDE and the Nigeria Market, welcome you all to this Significant Event. Significant because today will mark the start of a deep-rooted but positive shift in direction,for the Economy of our dear country – Nigeria. The Event of today is going to start a discourse that won’t end here, dissecting our current challenges and creating a Roadmap for Economic recovery and growth.
Allow me this time to appreciate the Honourable Ministers and Director – Generals here present and/or ably represented, for honoring our invitation that was sent out barely two (2) weeks ago. The responses we got were encouraging, and gave us the confidence that Government is ready to look at other options for Economic growth. The Private Sector players (Chief Executives and their representatives), representatives of National Associations, the International Community and Civil Society Organizations here present are key Stakeholders in Economic matters and we thank you for attaching importance to this Event by availing your presence.
I also want to thank our friends in the Media. You are a critical arm of this movement and we encourage you to amplify the Event of today and the chain of activities that will shape the Advocacy engagements in the next 12 months. This Media is critical for Nation – building and development. Thank you for coming.
Last on my list to appreciate is the Covid – 19 Pandemic. I know many of you will be perplexed on why I should say such, when the Pandemic brought with it, Death, Economic ruins and Mass Job losses. These concerns are understandable. But from another point of view, the Pandemic has taught us a long list of lessons that if we give considerable attention to, will help us create sustainable and long-term Economic blueprints. The Pandemic has shown us ‘Worse – Case’ scenario. Its time to reflect, build momentum and forge ahead, but this time, more intelligently.
The devastating effect of the Covid – 19 Pandemic on local businesses informed the formation of the Nigeria Market. The Nigeria Market is an Online advocacy platform that spotlights and promotes Made-in-Nigeria products, encouraging consumer – acceptability and patronage of locally-manufactured Nigerian brands and products; which also birthed the creation of this Business Stakeholders Advocacy Engagement Project. This project we are flagging-off today has two (2) components to it.
- To spearhead the sensitization and dialogue among key stakeholders (including Government, Manufacturers, Middlemen and Consumers), on revamping the Nigerian Economy by promoting the Market-dominance of Locally-manufactured Nigerian goods.
Nigeria is the highest importer of essential and non-essential goods in Africa. The country also couples as the World’s Headquarter of poverty. Now, some of these products being imported are also produced in Nigeria. Imagine the Economic benefits if we create a system as stakeholders that encourages market-dominance and patronage of locally-manufactured products. Jobs will be created, more taxes will be paid, Government will have more funds to executive its mandate and the Economy will do better. This is achievable and that is one of the reasons for this Stakeholders engagement, to rub minds and make things happen.
- To offer spotlight and promotions for local manufacturers, thereby, expanding their customer-base by bringing their products closer to consumers.
As part of the project, strategic measures have been put in place to draw attention to locally-manufactured Nigerian products and bring them close to consumers; thereby, expanding their customer – base, their profit – margins, possibility of expansion, which will reflect in the creation of more jobs and more taxes to Government and general Economic growth. Some of these measures are:
- Our Media crew will visit 250 Manufacturers across sectors in the 6 Geo-political zones of the country, to create 15 minutes promotional documentaries on their products that will be aired on one (1) Major Television station, one (1) Radio station and across all our Online Media Channels.
- We will Trend the Hash-tag #BuyNaija2GrowNaija on Social Media, to mobilize Nigerians and make the campaign a norm for Nigerians to give preference to locally-manufactured products. We all know and have seen the power of Social Media. The campaign will also extend into street walks and campaigns to raise awareness, in major commercial cities.
- During major Public Holidays (Christmas, New Year and both Sallahs), we will Organize Trade Fairs in strategic centers across the country so that people can come and buy locally-manufactured goods and discounted prices, network and connect.
Our Organization is committed to the Growth of Nigeria’s Economy. We call on the Government, as the policy makers, to enact Policies that will strengthen and give strategic market-advantages to Local products. These are the secrets of Nations that are economic power-houses. The Government must also be available to listen, to adjust and embrace ideas that will aid growth and development. For one, I am happy things are changing; at least some of its MDAs are here today. That is a step in the right direction. Partnership and supports for initiatives like this should be on a regular.
The Private Sector players also must be ambitious and equally empathic. If you’re ambitious, you will think expansion to meet growing demands. You will pay taxes so you do not have contentions with Government. If you are empathic, you will not take undue advantage of consumers. These are the ways things work now.
The execution of our Field Engagements begins at the end of this month, and we encourage Manufacturers to be receptive of our team as we make collaborative efforts to grow the Nation, its people and its economy.
So Help Us God.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
BUSINESS STAKEHOLDERS ADVOCACY ENGAGEMENT PROJECT
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Nigeria is the highest importer of goods, both essential and non-essential products, in Africa, and one of the foremost in the World, to meet the ever-growing needs of its estimated 200 million populations. Such age-long practice has continued to undermine the economic potentials of the Nation, killing business ideas, creating distain and contempt for locally-made products in the minds of countrymen, limiting job-opportunities, leave innovations unrewarded, and, as many will put it, transferred our common wealth into the purses of manufacturing countries at the expense of local manufacturers. Recent reports show that Nigeria spent $411.32 billion on importation of goods between 2010 – 2017, and #4.06 trillion between 2018 & 2019, sadly.
The Business Stakeholders Advocacy Engagement Project is a sub-initiative of the Nigerian Market, an online advocacy platform that spotlights and promotes Made-in-Nigeria products with views of encouraging acceptability and patronage of locally-manufactured products among consumers. The initiative which is championed by the Ambassadors Initiative for Development & Empowerment, has gained remarkable traction in the last 5 months, with massive reach across the country and abroad.
The Business Stakeholders Advocacy Engagement Project is created to spearhead the sensitization and dialogue among key stakeholders with an objective to promote and bring to the fore locally-manufactured Nigerian products. The Agenda is centered on selling the Nigerian brand while mobilizing the huge Nigerian market to buy, thereby BUYING NAIJA TO GROW NAIJA.
ORGANIZERS
Ambassadors Initiative for Development & Empowerment (AIDE) is a registered Non-Governmental Organization that has created the first online platform that promotes only made in Nigeria products with hash tag: #buynaija2grownaija.
DATE
The Business Stakeholders Advocacy Engagement Project is scheduled to commence 19th November, 2020 – 19th November, 2021. With the official lunch of campaign hash tag #buynaija2naija.
PROJECT OBJECTIVE
The primary objective of this initiative is to build the largest Eco-system for Nigerian local content, its development, promotion, profitability, and export into the African market, with an action plan for the next five (5) years.
Other objectives
- To effect a paradigm shift, attitudinal change and preference toward the patronage of locally-manufactured Nigerian products in the local markets.
- To facilitate stakeholders’ synergy and consensus on fostering an Eco-system that supports standardization, growth and boosts the export capacity of Nigeria-made products.
- To promote strategies that will give locally-manufactured Nigerian products unequalled edge in the Continental market.
- To drastically reduce the importation of Goods that can be produced in Nigeria.
- To foster linkages and network among existing Entrepreneurs and Business owners
PROJECT TARGETS
- Products Manufacturers
- Government MDAs
- Products Distributors
- Market Associations
- Importers & Exporters
- MSMEs
EXPECTED RESULTS OUTCOME
- Massive promotions of locally-manufactured products.
- Massive increase in patronage of locally-manufactured Nigerian products in the Nigerian market.
- Increase in demand of Nigerian products.
- A platform where Government leaders, stakeholders and investors meet.
- Showcased and spotlighted Products, Projects and Services.
- Improved capacity for 1,000 registered Entrepreneurs in Business Development.
- Recognize and Award Outstanding Nigerian market Ambassadors.
- Launch Nigerian Market
- Increased visibility, profitability, scalability and sustainability of local businesses.
- Massive jobs creation.
- Provide networking opportunities.
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Below are activities that make up the Business Stakeholders Advocacy Engagement Project;
- Exclusive Interviews: 250 select manufacturers and products distributors across the country will enjoy exclusive spotlight interviews and extensive coverage on all our platforms including TV, Online TV, Radio & Web platforms, to encourage patronage of their businesses.
- Bi-Annual Stakeholders Engagement Summits: As part of efforts to engage relevant stakeholders to develop framework and suggest policy-pathways on the advancement, acceptability, promotions and patronage of locally-manufactured products, there will be stakeholders summits held within the span of the project. The itinerary will also capture sensitization and enlightenment on locally-made products.
- The Launch of Associate Media Options: Currently, Nigerian Market is an Online TV/Web hub. But arrangements have been made for weekly Radio & TV broadcasts of all the project’s contents.
VIEWERS & VISITORS
It is anticipated that the Business Stakeholders Advocacy Engagement Project will attract millions of viewers from around Africa and overseas, including top Business executives, Government officials, Sales Professionals, Investors, Consumers and the general public as arrangements have been made to showcase all activities on multiple multimedia platforms.
LIST OF STAKEHOLDERS
- Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
- Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mine & Agriculture (NACCIMA)
- NEXIM Bank
- SMEDAN
- Investment Promotion Council
- Export Promotion Council
- Association of Nigeria Exporters (ANE)
- African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA
- Business Development Service Providers
- Market Unions
- Micro, Small & Medium-scale Enterprises
- Media Organizations
- Distributors
SAVE A LIFE CAMPAIGN
Save a Life Campaign is a health intervention project targeted at the vulnerable rural population through the primary healthcare sector in Nigeria born out of the dire need for proper healthcare services by equipping the facilities, administrative training and social support initiatives.
PRIMARY HEALTHCARE SECTOR IN NIGERIA
Health is rarely seen as a fundamental human right by policy makers in Nigeria. Increasing investment in health of the people has been a challenge for decision makers in spite of evidence showing the link between health and economic development.
The primary health care (PHC) facility is often all that rural communities have in form of a formal health system. How then do we improve the quality of care when attention has consistently been on expanding the reach of PHC services to rural populations and hardly on quality of services?
The presence of a PHC facility does not guarantee its use and there is a wrong assumption that a minimal level of input (i.e. infrastructure and staff) is essential before one can discuss quality. Even when quality becomes a real issue, it is often about equipping and supervision; but supervision is a poor proxy for quality. The quality of supervision itself is what matters. Handled poorly, this becomes a vicious circle: poor supervision results in low quality of services and low quality of services set a low standard for supervision.
The current state of PHC system in Nigeria is appalling with only about 20% of the 10,000 PHC facilities across Nigeria working. Presently, most of the PHC facilities in Nigeria lack the capacity to provide essential health-care services, in addition to having issues such as poor staffing, inadequate equipment, poor distribution of health workers, poor quality of health-care services, poor condition of infrastructure, and lack of essential drug supply. In part, problems with the implementation of PHC in Nigeria are related to the hand over in 1980s to the local government administration, which is the weakest level of government. The impact of local government administration on the people in Nigeria still remains a subject of intense debate and argument.
The PHC under one roof (PHCUOR) policy was formulated in 2011 to address the problem of fragmentation in PHC and ensure the integration of PHC services under one authority [The Local Government]. Its impact is yet to be felt on health status and utilization of PHC in Nigeria since PHC under one roof became a national policy only few years ago. The inability of PHC centers to provide basic medical services to the Nigerian population have made both secondary and tertiary health-care facilities experience an influx of patients. This will continue, unless the civil society intervenes on a more holistic level and make it a priority.
CAMPAIGN STRATEGY/OUTREACH
The “Save a Life Campaign” strategy is a public driven support system through public donations, grants and sponsorship which partly consists of a minimum amount of N1000 from individual’s tagged #Athousand to save athousand lifes. The cash raised will be used to purchase equipment’s, supply drugs, develop social support services and facilitate government/private interventions accordingly.
MAIDEN EDITION
The maiden edition of the campaign is propose to launch on 14th February, 2018 at Waru PHC which is located within Abuja Municipal Area Council ( AMAC ) in the outskirt of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja providing health services to over 3000-4000 settlers each consisting of the F.C.T manual labour workers within the F.C.T.
SUSTAINABLE FRAMEWORK
In an effort to sustain the campaign, we have developed our M&E department to ascertain the proper use of provided equipment’s and documented dissemination of drugs so the capital invested will be used in consistent drug supplies to the PHC’s. A proper accounting structure has also been put in view so as to ascertain and avoid misappropriation of funds, diversion and or looting. This will involve community members and by so doing, create job opportunities, involvement and participation. This, we trust will go a long way in creating a part of the wide solutions needed in the Primary Health Care sector and as well fill the needed gap in the provision of quality health services to the vulnerable population in rural communities across Nigeria.