Group Lament’s at the 6th Conference of Nigeria Trade AssociationsYour Heading
Dr. Nelson Obine, Convener and President of the Institute of Trade Associations Management in a welcome address expressed delight with First Bank for supporting the event once more. He said first bank has stand with the Conference since inception that their brand and their goodwill resonate with the participants.
Dr. Obine also recognized with appreciation Access Bank,
Nigeria Flour Mill, and Nigeria Brewery for believing in the mission of the
Conference and throwing-in their cash and in-kind support while encouraging
other well-meaning corporations for open doors when call for next edition
CONiTA 2025 begins.
Like the editions in the past, there was the opportunity for
people to network and also deepened conversation about sustainability,
marketing strategies and development of the Nigerian economy.
The conference was attended for free at no fees with prior
registration to encourage mass participation and mix of diverse trade
associations. Large numbers of the members of the Lagos State Council of
Tradesmen and Artisans (LASCOTA) was also in attendance.
Mr. Iyanda Olufemi, on behalf of the Guest speaker Princess
Jumoke Owoola, Projects Director at the Center for Indigenous Knowledge,
Development and Sustainability (CIKDAS) frowned at the act of foreigners taking
over our resources and heritage through illegal mining with promises that never
came through, he classified the act as an invasion of rural community across
Nigeria with hidden agenda whose effect diminishes indigenous entrepreneurship,
and stressed that this should not be taken for granted while he called on
relevant government agencies to intervene.
Mr. Adepeaiye Nurudeen of National Electronics Technicians
Associations of Nigeria (NETAN) in his submission during the question-and-answer
session laments over the importation of fake electrical parts into Nigeria, it
is killing electronic repairers he said. And wants to know how government can
provide help in stopping the importation of fake parts into the country.
The leadership of the Lagos State United Waste Recycling
Association lamented over the direct access to waste pickers by foreign players
in the recycling business, especially the China and Indian owned organizations.
The norm has been involving recycling chain of labour including pickers,
preprocessors and other middlemen who supply waste to the processing company,
thereafter supply to other companies as a raw material for their production,
they said LAWMA is in charge for issuing licenses which is required to gain
access to the dumpsite, that LAWMA is obviously aware of these practices. The
implications according to Mrs. Akinlosotu Funmilayo, secretary to the
association is that many people shall be rendered jobless, spiking unemployment
rate and denial of government revenue through taxes which the chain of
operators usually pay to the government account annually.
Mr. Jerry Ukperoro of Association of Carton and Wastes Recycling Dealers of Nigeria (ACWREDON) stressed that foreign company came to exploit us, the advent of foreign players caused the death of indigenous craft and artisanal production, because they mass produce and sell directly in the local market thereby discouraging indigenous production and resentment, the Cain village at Maryland, the Adire culture and several other indigenous entrepreneurship business has become a shadow of itself, he said further that if the government do not come up with policies to revamp indigenous business; that the current 98% rate of informal sector employment might drop drastically below 45% and this would mean a chaos for Nigerian economy.
Princess Jumoke Owoola represented by Mr. Iyanda Olufemi spoke on a topic “Unlocking potential
for Indigenous Entrepreneurship strategy and success”, he said it is not too
different from the basic concept of entrepreneurship whose motive is to make
profit, it involves identification of
investment opportunities and application of the available resources for
successful growth. He encouraged
artisans to take advantage of indigenous knowledge in production of materials
that are highly demanded outside Nigeria for example charcoal are usually in
demand abroad between September and February which could be added to their
survival strategy as multiple streams of income in modern times. However, there
are requirement and guidelines by the standard organization and the Nigeria
export promotion council. In a recommendation, he said government should engage
artisans in providing technologies with financial assistance and connecting to
financial organizations like Bank of Industry for financial assistance.
Chief Olalekan James a member of the Lagos State Charcoal Marketers Association (CMA) Alimosho chapter in the same opinion is calling on Lagos state government to proffer solution to the issue of soft loan for business expansion.
The question and answers section came to a close leaving several questions for the government agencies to answer in course of their association and daily operation. How can Government extend their financial incentives to Artisans? Are there collaborations between the bank of industry and Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment to train, support and patronize Artisans?
Messrs.’ Ibrahim Rukayat of Tie and Dye Association asked to
know the effort of government in regulating foreign businesses in Nigeria as it
affects their industry.
Engr. Sanya Gbolahan, President of the National Electronics
Technicians Associations of Nigeria (NETAN) in a recommendation said aside
training of Artisans, that in as much as they are well organized sector and can
be located with ease, that government should get them connected to job that
they can execute using their skills and knowledge acquired over time.
Dr. Nelson Obine, President of the Institute of Trade
Associations Management described how Trade Associations can promote
sustainability practices for their
members, the list include: Education and
awareness; advocacy and policy influence, facilitating access to finance,
supporting safety measures, encouraging innovation, monitoring and evaluation whose benefits he said includes: Enhanced brand reputation, increased members/customer
loyalty, improved profitability, minimized regulatory risks and a being
recognized as a contributor to sustainable development.
Dr. Obine said every artisan and entrepreneur that is looking
to expand their sales across the border should consider imbedding the practice
of sustainability in their operation if they are not doing so already because
it is one of the features of marketing strategy he did prescribe for African
Artisans. There is tendency for potential customers and stakeholders to make
demand for the sustainability practice that were embedded in the production and
services being offered. Entrepreneurs seeking to fuse sustainability in their
daily operation should focus on developing innovative business solutions that
minimize environmental impact, conserve natural resources, and promote social
equity.
Dr. Obine further said Trade Associations should engage
advocacy for sustainable practices, facilitating collaboration and knowledge
sharing, involve itself in promoting industry-wide sustainability standards.
Speaking on marketing strategies for African Artisans, he
analyzed the tools and platform with emphasis for Nigerians, he encouraged them
to learn and adopt modern method associated with offline marketing strategies
while taking advantages of availability of global market by engaging in online
marketing also, instead of solely waiting for customers to meet them at one
particular shop or location.
Advisedly, he said it is high time for the government at all
level to consider the allotment of site and building of ultra-modern market for
artisans with the needed publicity and resources, this will go a long way to
boost employment, apprenticeship, development and inclusive economic growth in
Nigeria.
The keynote speaker, Mrs. Taiwo Abiose, Director of
Entrepreneurship Department, Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation &
Employment through the assistant director, Mr. Wale Thompson buttressed the
importance of practicing social responsibility in business undertakings. He
called on Entrepreneurs and Artisans to focus on solution instead of alarming
over problems day by day, the Japan, China and other developed nations we use
as an example today focused on solution where others are magnifying their
problems. It is solution that has brought the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
innovation that we are currently embracing to run our motor vehicles.
The Conference has held five editions since it started in
2018 with theme “Harnessing the Power of Trade Associations for Good
Governance, Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity”.
2023 Theme: Prerequisite for Acceleration of Economic Growth and
Development in Modern Nigeria
2022 Theme: The Place of Small and Micro Enterprise for Inclusive
Growth and Sustainable Development in Africa.
2021 Theme: Governance and Economic Prosperity in a Pandemic World
2019 Theme: Convergence of Informal Sector and Trade Associations
for Sustainable Development.
2018 Theme: Harnessing the Power of Trade Associations for Good Governance, Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity.