Recession: Fabricators panacea to economy growth ―DG SMEDAN

The Director General and Chief Executive Officer, of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Dr Dikko Umaru Radda has stressed the importance of indigenous  fabricators in the country saying that they are panacea to the nation’s economic growth at this recession period.

Dr Radda stated this at the weekend while speaking in Abuja at the just concluded National Fabricators’ Workshop with the theme “Stimulating Economic Growth during Recession through Indigenous Fabrication Technology Capability and Awareness.”

According to the SMEDAN boss who spoke through Engr. David Abu Ozigi, Director Engineering Technology, Innovation and Infrastructure said “Fabricators are very vital in the promotion and Development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.”

“Their useful role is derived from the know-how in fabricating appropriate machinery and equipment for the production of goods and services, which enhances economic growth through increase in GDP.”

“A fabricator needs to imbibe the spirit of entrepreneurship for him or her to succeed in running a competitive enterprise.”

He pointed that it was in recognition of this fact that SMEDAN collaborates with the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) to maximally utilize the potential of fabricators in Nigeria.

According to him, “the maximum utilization of indigenous fabricators in Nigeria will create wealth and give the nation the leverage to produce machineries and equipment that are otherwise imported. The spill over of this activity would engender sustainable economic growth.”

It is in recognition of this imperative that SMEDAN in year 2013 entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU with FIIRO to among other things:

• Stimulate acquisition of appropriate Technologies and innovations by MSMEs
• Facilitate access of MSMEs to FIIRO technologies; and
• Provide Business Development and Advisory Services to MSMEs

He commended the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and other stakeholders for hosting the workshop which said would go a long way in developing and promoting the framework for commercialization of Indigenous Fabrication Technology and creating the awareness on the know-how

Dr Radda pointed out that the workshop had addressed the important issues of:

Promotion of locally fabricated equipment, challenges of equipment fabrication in Nigeria (of which Infrastructure is key), Technical manpower development and associated challenges, Training, Certification and Accreditation and Market Access, among others.