Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has said that the country will begin local production of pencils in the next two years.
After a facility tour of Projects Development Institute (PRODA), Enugu State, Onu said the project would create over 400,000 jobs in line with the vision of the current administration.
He said that it was wrong for the country to be importing pencils when it had the capacity to produce them.
“It is unthinkable that 55 years after independence, Nigeria ss still not producing pencils when we have the human and material resources in the country.
“PRODA has to produce pencils for Nigeria and they have given me the assurance that this can be done and that with pencil manufacture here, we will be creating 400,000 new jobs.
“The (Muhammadu) Buhari administration is committed to creating new jobs and growing our economy,” he said.
The minister said that the ministry would give PRODA the necessary assistance to realise the project.
He said that the agency could do more than it was doing now with the needed support.
He said that the country could leverage on pencil production to increase its foreign earnings.
“For the information of Nigerians, pencil is not produced anywhere in West Africa, so I am directing PRODA to realise this within the next years,” he said.
Onu said that another area of interest was in the production of Nigerian made six-cylinder engines.
“The six-cylinder engine is one thing they must produce.
“This is a mandate they have to work on because once we have the capacity to produce our own engine, then many of our defence and manufacturing requirements will be met.
“We need to build the capacity for self-reliance in Nigeria. We are tired of copying others and importing all sorts of things. We want others to come to Nigeria and learn,” he said.

SOURCE: http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/nigeria-to-start-producing-pencil-in-2-years-says-minister

Wat abt toothpick

China started small so there is no shame in this. If we can start small, we can make it big


Slow but steady

Its really an applause bro, Never take anything for granted, NIGERIA IS MOVING FOWARD TO A GREATER HEIGHT.

Encouragement is the best way to success "

If Nigeria must develop, these are the type of industries we need

SHAME!!! Silly sleeping giant of Africa. Can't produce pencils since eons ago. With alllll the resources in this Godamn nation-human and material,we can only manage to produce pencils?! In this age and time,I guess Nigeria producing pencils is suppose to groundbreaking,right? Shame!

Better late than never

no longer news

This government and lies sha.
How can production of pencil create 400,000 jobs?
Haba.

shift15:
This government and lies sha.
How can production of pencil create 400,000 jobs?
Haba.

Who provide the raw materials...jobs
Who provide the transportation...jobs
Who provide the logistics...jobs
The equipment...jobs
The market that the pencils are sold...jobs
How many schools use pencils...jobs
Who markets the pencils...jobs
If they are exported...jobs
Who regulates...jobs

All the same we must encourage local production and consumption of everything we do in nigeria it equates to.....jobs