Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says Nigeria has what it takes to manufacture its own weapons, vehicles, clean energy trucks and cars, among others.

Osinbajo made this submission in his special address at the 5th National Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Awards on Monday in Abuja.

The awards were given in 10 categories with a prize of N1 million and a car per winner.

The categories were Awards of Excellence in Agriculture; Fashion and Style; Creative Art; Manufacturing; Technology and Innovation; Furniture and Woodworks.

Others were outstanding MSMEs Clinics Award, Award of Excellence in Beauty and Wellness, MSME of the Year Award and Award of Excellence in Leather Works.

More so, Best MSME State in Agriculture was won by Edo, Best MSME State in Fashion won by Imo, Best MSME State in Innovation, Borno and Best MSME State in Policy Support, Ogun.

The vice president said that since its inauguration in 2018, the National MSME Awards had grown in leaps and bounds attracting over 17, 000 entries in 2022.

“It has become a prominent feature in the annual event calendar of the MSME community in Nigeria, attracting thousands of prospective business owners, established entrepreneurs, regulators and financiers.

“The award applications have jumped from the 500 in 2018, to over 17,000 entries this year. Clearly, the interest shown in the awards by Nigerian entrepreneurs has been tremendous.

“In the past years, winners in the different categories have gone home with various prizes that have impacted their businesses and profiles – cash prizes, cars, and of course local and international media attention.

The reward for the awards has also increased from an initial humble beginning of one star prize car in 2018 for the MSME of the Year winner to 10 cars in all categories this year.

“This is to underscore the significant improvement that has been built between the private sector and the Federal Government over the years.’’

Osinbajo said that the awards also inspired many young entrepreneurs to greatness while some of the stories were simply incredible.

He said it was worthwhile to mention and congratulate the 2022 winners.

“They are, Peaklori Production Limited from Delta State, winner of the award for Excellence in Agriculture; Nature’s Organic Secret from Niger, who won the NAFDAC/SMEDAN award of Excellence in Beauty and Cosmetics.


Abeni Prints from Oyo State, winner of the NEPC award for Excellence in Creative Arts; Famkapparel from Lagos State, who is taking home the FIRS award for Excellence in Fashion and Style.

“Tanko Furniture from Sokoto State, winner of the award for ITF Excellence in Furniture and Woodwork; JMOFS Enterprises from Plateau State, who won the RMRDC/DBN award in leather works and Negs Empire from Imo State, winner of the NEXIM Bank MSME Clinic participant of the year.’’

The vice president said that the MSMEs told the story of Nigeria’s great economic future.

He said that Nigeria had all it required for manufacturing a wide range of products locally.

“ We are set to manufacture our own vehicles, clean energy trucks and cars, and we are on course to manufacturing our own weapons, armoured mobile platforms and aircrafts; we have all it takes.

But I believe that MSME in technology and manufacturing, especially in the clean energy or green economy, deserves special mention.

“ I am convinced that this sector will be crucial in global industrial development in the coming years and will leapfrog Nigeria to economic prosperity.’’

Osinbajo acknowledged the ingenuity of some of the innovators as they defined the future in terms of clean energy automobiles and precision engineering.

He mentioned Thinkbikes Limited, the winner of the BOI Award for Excellence in manufacturing founded by Tolulope Olukokun, which produces Solar and …battery-run bikes that can go up to 50 kilometres on a single charge.

“The second is Phoenix Renewables Limited–the winner of the NITDA award in innovation, founded by Mustapha Abubakar Gajibo.


The company designs and builds electric and solar powered cars, tricycles and also vehicle and engine parts.

“ The vehicles are now deployed for public transportation in the Maiduguri metropolis; by April they had conveyed over 21,000 passengers; I had the singular pleasure of driving one of the electric cars when I visited the Phoenix renewables stand at the Borno MSME Clinic.

“The third is the Clintonel Advanced Engineering Centre, Access Bank MSME of the year award winner, founded by Tochukwu Clinton Chukwueke; the company builds high precision parts, moulds medical equipment, and auto engine parts,’’ he said.

Osinbajo also congratulated the governors of Edo, Imo, Ogun and Borno states, who picked up outstanding awards in various categories in the MSME space.

Earlier, Mr Tola Johnson, Special Assistant to the President on MSME and National Coordinator, MSME Clinics, said awards were birthed in 2018 when President Muhammadu Buhari sought for a reward scheme for MSMEs.


He said that the president’s request was borne out of his satisfaction with the MSME Clinics.

On her part, Hajia Mariam Katagum, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, commended the organisers of the award for being focused and steadfast over the years.

She added that the COVID-19 pandemic created an opportunity for new frontiers and expanded the MSME space.

https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/nigeria-can-manufacture-own-vehicles-aircraft-weapons-osinbajo/rv016j4

All this can be manufacture locally- with the potential and talents in the youths, all these can be achieved of course with both government and private sector support.

Jelani Aliy of Chevrolet and the team who Mr.P called from UK, specifically from one of the leading automobile company oversees should make head way to ensure all these are achievable

If you still think Nigeria cannot achieve all these with all the talented youths we have, you can't be redeemed again

Absolutely! We can but the country needs to undergo some restructuring that will motivate states and regions to compete and collaborate to unleash the potentials that will make Nigeria great again.

The current structure is holding everybody down as state governors look to Abuja for policy direction and federal revenue allocation. Unfortunately, the people at Abuja lack ideas and vision to lead the way. In summary, at the moment our political leaders from the Presidency, to National Assembly and Governors are too money-focused to think clearly and straight.

Unfortunately, none of the current presidential candidates have so far shown any clear plans to restructure Nigeria at least economically.

Yes, very true.

But being more of a capitalist nation than otherwise, that is actually on the shoulders of individuals or group of individuals.

Government in capitalist nations don't invest in such ventures, they only create enabling environment. Dangote is already exploiting this opportunity. Unlike one criminal pretending to do same but attempted to defraud Gtbank.

Despite all these, watch Meth illiterates start screaming Buhari up and down.

Big English man with an iPad nah the aircraft part off me, himself no it can’t happen in 60years time now yahoo pastor with big English lies.
#Himtulie

HONESTLY WE CAN, IT IS THE CORRUPTION IN OUT SYSTEM THAT IS THE PROBLEM, WE CAN DO ANYTHING A ND PRODUCE EVERYTHING

This joke sweet me pass

So what’s stopping it?

All the money supposed for that purpose has been looted like ur types…

We have materials needed to and more importantly the talent to build whatever we want to.

That's the only we can strengthen the Naira and create direct and indirect employment. Osinbajo is right.

Nigerians are talented people

Yes, with focus on production. The likes of innoson and others have proven Nigerian capabilities.

Nigeria is talented and full of resources

We can do anything we put our mind to

With the way you politicians are running the country abi, no LIGHT no good roads, economy in shambles, nothing works in the system, all manufacturing sectors down at the moment, all you people do in leadership is to glorify corruption and looting, abeg make we hear word Mr vice president, not with this present crop of corrupt politicians oga

I strongly believe this is possible. Nigeria has the intelligence and ability, the required resources can be imported, people can be trained to achieve these things but it is what it is

I believe so we're talented and hardworking we can do anything if we set out minds to it. Osinbajo has always been supporting the MSMES and that is a great thing to know.

Yes we can. Your government ( Apc/PDP) had all the chances to do that, but NO . They chose to be lazy thieves instead.

late speesh...

rubbish...

Stop telling us what we know since the Biafra war

Nigeria is super talented I'm very sure we can manufacture and achieved with the support of government and private sector.

The problem is"we Nigerians don't like home made goods. Ask innocent motors

No country with Hausa/Fulani in them can ever work. We need to be of like mind to work together.

Everything he does can only be found on papers,nothing else to show.

Foolish man,after your 8years don complete.

Other countries are doing it ,we can do it too !

Only Innoson (Igbos) can do that

Nigeria can do so many things

Nigeria can manufacturer bokoharam Fulani herdman kidnapping.......

LeoDeKing:
Yes, very true.

But being more of a capitalist nation than otherwise, that is actually on the shoulders of individuals or group of individuals.

Government in capitalist nations don't invest in such ventures, they only create enabling environment. Dangote is already exploiting this opportunity. Unlike one criminal pretending to do same but attempted to defraud Gtbank.

Despite all these, watch Meth illiterates start screaming Buhari up and down.

Nonsensical comment

.

Ehen...talk is free sha....keep talking...7 years you nor do anything meaningful....if na to share 10k for market now you go dey fly helicopter up and down like winch wey miss road

The MSMEs told the story of Nigeria’s great economic future.

Nigeria can do great things with the hell of MSMES.