By Precious Akutamadu
The Federal Government says it has mobilised greater than 380 million {dollars} in strategic financing commitments to help manufacturing and value-chain improvement underneath the Nigerian Industrial Policy 2025.
The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Sen. John Enoh, stated this on Tuesday in Port Harcourt on the opening of the twenty second International Conference organised by the Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (NIEEE).
Enoh was represented on the occasion by Mr Etoro Johnson, of the Industrial Inspectorate Department.
He stated that the 2026 International Conferece and Exhibition on Power and Telecommunication (ISEF 2026) with the theme: “Energy Transition in the Digital Era: A Nexus, Challenges and Opportunities.” was apt.
Enoh stated the Nigerian Industrial Policy 2025 supplied a framework for addressing gaps in vitality, commerce, infrastructure and know-how to strengthen industrial improvement and create a aggressive enterprise setting.
He stated the federal government was prioritising worth addition in agro-processing, petrochemicals, prescribed drugs, textiles and light-weight manufacturing to scale back dependence on uncooked commodity exports and promote home manufacturing of completed items.
The minister stated the federal government was additionally prioritising devoted vitality options for industrial clusters to deal with energy provide challenges, which remained a significant operational headache for producers.
He cited collaborative initiatives involving devoted energy and fuel infrastructure for industrial parks as fashions for offering dependable vitality to manufacturing centres throughout the nation.
Enoh stated the ministry was increasing financing interventions in partnership with the Bank of Industry to scale back boundaries to accessing funds for producers.
He stated the federal government was additionally strengthening Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) via functionality mapping and technical coaching in automation and artisanal abilities to enhance productiveness and combine native suppliers into main industrial worth chains.
According to him, the federal government is strengthening product high quality and requirements via regional quality-mark initiatives and standardised certification frameworks to allow Nigerian merchandise to compete extra successfully underneath the African Continental Free Trade Area.
He stated the convergence of vitality transition and digital transformation supplied Nigeria a chance to construct a sustainable, globally aggressive and technologically superior industrial ecosystem.
“Electrical and electronics engineers stand at the centre of this transition.
“This is whether designing smart grids, expanding telecommunications networks, advancing automation in local factories or integrating renewable energy systems into industrial parks,” he stated.
Enoh stated industrialisation required sturdy energy infrastructure, superior digital know-how, dependable vitality provide and environment friendly worth chains.
He urged engineers to collaborate with the federal government in creating indigenous applied sciences, enhancing vitality supply to manufacturing hubs and accelerating the adoption of digital options throughout all sectors of the financial system.
“Government cannot achieve this vision in isolation.
“I therefore call on the engineering community to partner with us in developing homegrown technologies, optimising energy delivery to manufacturing hubs and accelerating the adoption of digital solutions,” he stated.
The minister urged delegates on the convention to translate their discussions into sensible suggestions that will help coverage implementation, industrial development, funding, job creation and sustainable financial improvement.
He counseled the Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (NIEEE) for organising the convention, saying it supplied a platform for dialogue on Nigeria’s industrial and technological improvement.
Dr Felix Adeboye, the President, Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, urged engineers to leverage digital applied sciences to speed up Nigeria’s vitality transition, enhance electrical energy entry and strengthen telecommunications infrastructure.
Adeboye stated that applied sciences corresponding to Artificial Intelligence, machine studying, the Internet of Things and digital twins might rework vitality era, transmission and distribution.
He confused the necessity for engineers to develop regionally related options to enhance grid resilience, combine renewable vitality, cut back technical and industrial losses and appeal to funding.
According to him, attaining an inclusive vitality transition requires collaboration amongst authorities, {industry}, academia, researchers, buyers and communities.
The NIEEE president additionally highlighted the introduction of a devoted Fellows Assembly to look at synthetic intelligence’s impression on engineering apply, ethics, security, cybersecurity {and professional} accountability.
He urged members to translate information gained on the convention into sensible applied sciences, stronger industry-academia partnerships and sustainable engineering options that will advance Nigeria’s vitality and digital improvement.
Meanwhile, Mr Olice Kemenanabo, the chairman of the event, urged engineers to embrace innovation, uphold skilled requirements and develop sensible, reasonably priced and resilient options to drive industrial development and financial improvement in Nigeria.
Kemenanabo stated the success of {the electrical}, electronics and telecommunications sectors trusted sound engineering, correct planning, technical competence and adherence to requirements.
He urged engineers to take their rightful place in society, stressing that engineering improvements, together with robotics and synthetic intelligence, might enhance important providers and strengthen the financial system.
The chairman cited a surgical procedure in Turkey, throughout which specialised tools enabled the elimination of a lung nodule in 28 minutes, for instance of engineering’s impression on healthcare.
He urged engineers to be happy with their career and deploy their experience to develop options suited to Nigeria’s wants.(NAN)
PA/BEKl/KUA
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Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Uche Anunne
