ProducedinNigeria has flagged off its maiden trade fair and exhibition in Lagos State, South West Nigeria, even as it reiterated it commitment to promote made in Nigeria brands to the world.
Organisers of the exhibition on Monday, promised to ensure that Nigerian brands get the deserved patronage worldwide with a view of creating awareness through e-commerce platform.
Speaking at the trade fair, Co-Founder, ProducedinNigeria, Prince Noah Abiola explained that the purpose of the exhibition was aimed to showcase the creativity of Nigerians to the diaspora.
The Co founder disclosed that the trade fair and exhibition train will move to other geopolitical zones of the country, with a view on how to sensitize manufacturers of locally made products about the importance of e-commerce adding that Nigerians are blessed with innovations and creativity but cannot reach out to the diaspora.
As part of the awareness train , Abiola stated that on a quarterly basis, ProducedinNigeria will tour the south east and south south respectively,to sensitize manufacturers before moving up to the northern region.
Speaking further,he affirmed that the e-commerce show was aimed to project the brighter side of Nigeria against the backdrop of negative news and pictures, literally being painted across the globe pointing out that Nigerians in the diaspora are anxious to see good things emanating from the country.
According to him, Nigerians products and services can compete favourably with any standards globally, stressing that ProducedinNigeria is a platform that will help showcase the numerous vendors under the platform and their brands to the world.
Harping on the importance of the e-commerce platform in line with job creation, Abiola said despite the economic challenges in the country, vendors under the platform are producing brands of international standards saying, that with the e-commerce platform, opportunities are abound for Nigerians.
He noted that with the e-commerce platform in place , issues affecting unemployment will drop significantly , because according to him,the numerous vendors under ProducedinNigeria will employ more hands to boost production.
Abiola reiterated that:”With ProducedinNigeria we know a lot of youths will be engaged in terms of employment. And that is why we are bringing it to our people and I believe that Nigerians have so much to offer. Nigeria is the greatest country in the planet because we place premium on the value of our products.”
Similarly, Co founder and Chief Executive Officer, ProducedinNigeria, Mrs Bukky Ojo Abiola stated that the trade fair and exhibition was a starting point aimed to create the deserved awareness for made in Nigeria brands to the diaspora.
Mrs Abiola said that the numerous vendors under the e-commerce platform will be catapulted for online business adding that awareness of brands was key towards achieving global recognition with the #Setigbo , meaning “have you heard.”
The CEO affirmed that : “We want to encourage people in Nigeria to produce and when you produce either products or services, we want to give you a platform to showcase and express yourself to the world”.
Speaking on the tour, she said : “We have taken the first step today and we will go to the east and north and across the six geopolitics zones of the country.
On her part, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) Dr. Abike Dabiri Erewa maintained that agriculture in Nigeria must move away from being treated as a social sector for managing poverty but to a business for wealth creation.
The Chairman who was represented by NIDCOM,Admin Officer, Mr. George Will Ssnusi said “Development of agricultural value chains will create market opportunities for hundreds of millions farmers, adding that nothing is more important than food.
“A nation that does not feed itself becomes a threat to its own sovereign existence”Erewa stressed.
However, President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr Michael Olawale-Cole stated that promotion of Nigerian goods was very key towards ensuring a balance of trade.
Olawale Cole who was represented by the Chairman, Professional Practice Group, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry LCCI, Emmanuel Dangana called on government to provide the enabling environment for businesses to thrive adding that Nigerian brand manufacturers should harp on the respective target market globally through the ProducedinNigeria.
The event had in attendance- vendors from the food and beverage merchandise, artisans, clothing lines experts and others.
