AIDE at 10

AIDE @ 10

AIDE @ 10AIDE was registered in May 2011 with the Corporate Affairs Commission, in May 2021, AIDE became 10 years old, a gathering of the first staffs and partners who have worked with AIDE over the years were brought together to mark this monumental achievement in service to humanity.

The program was a success as the guests were visibly happy while reconnecting after migrating to other areas and aspect of their jobs and dreams.

Unveiling of #BuyNaija2GrowNaija

Success Photos 

THE ‘FLAG-OFF OF THE BUSINESS STAKEHOLDERS ADVOCACY ENGAGEMENT PROJECT

 

Unveiling of #BuyNaija2GrowNaija

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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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