On Tuesday, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure reiterated its resolve to promote made-in-Nigeria products.

Abdulfatai Ambali, head of the department of manufacturing services of the Hydraulic Equipment Development Institute, a division of NASENI, gave the assurance during a focus group meeting with stakeholders by the agency in Dutse.

The stakeholders include industrialists, local manufacturers and technology innovators, among others.

According to Mr Ambali, the focus meeting was convened to discuss strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s manufacturing sector and boosting patronage of locally made products.

He described NASENI as pivotal to national development and urged consumers to actively support made-in-Nigeria products while calling on manufacturers to uphold quality standards.

He explained that under collaboration, the agency partners with individuals, groups, organisations and academia, where students and lecturers venture into various research works.

Mr Ambali added that under the creation principle, skills development was developed, and a series of training and innovations were established for Nigerian youths and local manufacturers.

According to him, under the principle of commercialisation, the agency is trying to ensure that whatever is achieved through collaboration and creation gets to the market.

He noted that if Nigerians were not patronising local products, all investments being made by the government and other collaborators would become a waste, adding that it was what the agency was making frantic efforts to correct.

He said that the agency was not satisfied with the level of patronage for locally made products by Nigerians, hence the focus group meeting to create awareness.

He expressed the hope that at the end of the programme, there would be more patronage, value and improvement of locally made products.

He encouraged Nigerians to patronise made-in-Nigeria products while appealing to manufacturers to ensure they meet top-quality standards.

(NAN)