mPAD to Gather Manufacturing Leaders in Lagos and Focus on Nigerian Industrial Revolution

Lagos, Nigeria, November 06, 2014 --(PR.com)-- The Nigerian Industrial Revolution and what needs to be in place for it to grow is top of the agenda at the upcoming Manufacturing Partnerships for African Development (mPAD) conference and trade expo in Lagos from 18-19 November. The event will attract some of Nigeria’s top manufacturers who will not only discuss their vision for the sector but also look at practical solutions to the challenges they face on a daily basis.

mPAD’s programme director Fotoula Fatouros says, “We are so excited about our speaker line-up – they are experts in their field and have great vision and best practice experience to impart.” She continues: “Our programme looks at the various elements that affect manufacturing from securing finance, managing production costs, understanding the government’s role in the sector through policy and regulations, developing workers’ skill base and creating a culture of effectiveness through efficiency. All issues that affect a manufacturer’s bottom line. mPAD seeks to offer insight to these challenges and create a platform for manufacturers to engage and share best practices.”

She adds: “The recent rebasing of the Nigerian economy has put the spotlight on the country’s economy and more so their manufacturing sector. Government has also introduced the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan with its ultimate goal to add about NGN 5 trillion to annual manufacturing revenues in the next three to five years. The manufacturing sector currently contributes 6.81% to the new GDP, but with capacity utilisation only standing at 48.24% the sector has not even begun to tap into its potential.”

Government has seen the need
“The good news is that government has seen the need for manufacturing to take a more prominent stage in the scheme of national development and therefore making incentives available to encourage investment in the sector,” says Reginald Ike Odiah, Chairman: Infrastructure Committee, Manufacturing Association of Nigeria. He will chair several sessions in the upcoming mPAD Manufacturers’ Forum.

Access to power is a major challenge to the manufacturing sector says Mr Odiah. He explains: “Currently manufacturers spend about 40% of their production cost on supply of electricity. As a matter of need, all manufacturers must have an in-house generating plant to be in a position to manufacture. Though privatization of the electricity power sector has commenced since 2010 and still on going, we are still not out of the woods yet.”

“Ignore the TV reports, find credible local partners”
Leonard Ebute, Head of Supply Chain, Kimberly-Clark West Africa, and also an mPAD speaker, says main challenges also, ironically, represent the main opportunities for the future: “the next big businesses in Nigeria should be businesses that are solving these problems in innovative ways. The key risk which manufacturers have to live with is the latent but potentially potent risk of a major policy reversal or change in government regulation.”

Mr Ebute’s vision for the industry includes Nigeria becoming a manufacturer of not just not just consumer goods but capital goods as well and advises potential investors to “ignore the TV reports, find credible local partners, do the numbers…you won’t need a word from me to know where to put your money. Look at the growth rate, the awesome demography, the relative stability of democratic governance, the sheer size of the market, the success story of pure play companies in the last 15 years, and most of all, the resilience of the Nigerian people and the Nigerian economy to adverse circumstances which would have thrown almost any other nation into complete chaos. Bring value and Nigeria will reward you for it handsomely.”

mPAD programme highlights:
• Session 2.2.3: Nigeria’s Industrial Revolution: Defining Nigerian manufacturing frameworks
Chairman: Reginald Ike Odiah, Chairman: Infrastructure Committee,
Manufacturing Association of Nigeria, Nigeria

- Benchmarking manufacturing processes for sustainable growth and development
Olusegun Adetunji, Head Supply Chain, Sanofi-Aventis North East Africa, Nigeria
- Embracing the principles of an industrial revolution to meet manufacturing expectations
Leonard Ebute, Head of Supply Chain, Kimberly-Clark West Africa, Nigeria

Steps to achieving manufacturing excellence
- Making progress in the manufacturing sector post privatisation
- Overcoming traditional obstacles with new strategies
- Exploring support systems to assist manufacturers

Panellists:
- Dosumu Mobolaji Olubukola, CEO, Preciousgate Integrated Services, Nigeria
- Olusegun Adetunji, Head Supply Chain, Sanofi-Aventis, Nigeria
- Leonard Ebute, Head of Supply Chain, Kimberly-Clark West Africa, Nigeria

• Employing alternative power supply and energy efficient technology for improved reliability
Roland Nottidge, General Manager, Independent Power Projects, John Holt, Nigeria

• Cutting operational energy costs through the use of off-grid solar initiatives
Anthony Obidulu, Chief executive officer, All Grain Foods Nigeria, Nigeria

There will also be suppliers and solution providers on hand showcasing the latest technologies and a free on-the-floor technical workshop programme for technical staff and their teams.

Co-located with WAPIC
mPAD is co-located with the 11th edition of the annual West African Power Industry Convention (WAPIC) at the Eko Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria where 1000 power and utility professionals are expected this year. Both events are organised by Spintelligent, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK.

mPAD dates and venue:
Conference days: 18-19 November 2014
Venue: Eko Hotel, Lagos, Nigeria