Ighodalo decries access to raw materials, brain-drain
By Oghale Mafuru
As the Federal Government continues to seek ways to diversify the nation’s economy and encourage local production to balance trade and commerce, the Chief Executive Officer of DO II Designs, Ifeyinwa Ighodalo has summited that access to local raw materials and human capital are adversely affecting the manufacturing sector despite government interventions.
Speaking to MARKETING EDGE in an interview, the corporate amazon who has been operating in the business environment for over thirty-five years, stated that although the government has been making efforts to revive the manufacturing sector, access to local raw material remains a major challenge.
Her words: “Nigeria’s Manufacturing sector has recorded significant growth in recent years. Manufacturing contributes approximately 10% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestics product, GDP each year and this includes local production of Household goods, consumer products, agriculture, building materials, etc.
“The Federal Government’s efforts at advancing local industries and the acceptance of our homemade products, have largely aided this growth. However, the inability to have all our raw materials sourced locally remains the greatest challenge. Currently, the industry still relies very heavily on imported materials. The dream is to have a 100% of our raw materials sourced and produced locally” She added.
Ifeyinwa Ighodalo who decried the massive exodus of young and active Nigerians to other countries and the adverse effect on businesses noted that the state of the educational system is even more worrisome.
“I will say human capital is the most challenging thing affecting businesses today. We all know what is happening in education, the strikes, and even when the children are in school; we are concerned about the quality of education they are getting. What we have all experienced in the last few years which we do not realize is the brain drain.
So, the quality talents that we have; the great minds that are leaving the country. For me, it is a major problem. Honestly speaking, I birth this business with people and if I didn’t have good people, I wouldn’t be here today”.
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