By Precious Akutamadu
The Federal Government says it has mobilised greater than 380 million {dollars} in strategic financing commitments to assist manufacturing and value-chain improvement beneath the Nigerian Industrial Policy 2025.
The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Sen. John Enoh, mentioned 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 mentioned 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 mentioned the Nigerian Industrial Policy 2025 offered a framework for addressing gaps in power, commerce, infrastructure and know-how to strengthen industrial improvement and create a aggressive enterprise atmosphere.
He mentioned the federal government was prioritising worth addition in agro-processing, petrochemicals, prescription drugs, textiles and lightweight manufacturing to scale back dependence on uncooked commodity exports and promote home manufacturing of completed items.
The minister mentioned the federal government was additionally prioritising devoted power options for industrial clusters to deal with energy provide challenges, which remained a serious operational headache for producers.
He cited collaborative initiatives involving devoted energy and fuel infrastructure for industrial parks as fashions for offering dependable power to manufacturing centres throughout the nation.
Enoh mentioned the ministry was increasing financing interventions in partnership with the Bank of Industry to scale back obstacles to accessing funds for producers.
He mentioned 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 beneath the African Continental Free Trade Area.
He mentioned the convergence of power transition and digital transformation supplied Nigeria a possibility 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 mentioned.
Enoh mentioned industrialisation required sturdy energy infrastructure, superior digital know-how, dependable power provide and environment friendly worth chains.
He urged engineers to collaborate with the federal government in creating indigenous applied sciences, bettering power 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 mentioned.
The minister urged delegates on the convention to translate their discussions into sensible suggestions that might assist 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 offered 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 power transition, enhance electrical energy entry and strengthen telecommunications infrastructure.
Adeboye mentioned that applied sciences comparable to Artificial Intelligence, machine studying, the Internet of Things and digital twins may rework power era, transmission and distribution.
He confused the necessity for engineers to develop regionally related options to enhance grid resilience, combine renewable power, scale back technical and business losses and appeal to funding.
According to him, reaching an inclusive power 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 affect 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 might advance Nigeria’s power 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 mentioned 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, may enhance important providers and strengthen the financial system.
The chairman cited a surgical procedure in Turkey, throughout which specialised tools enabled the removing of a lung nodule in 28 minutes, for example of engineering’s affect on healthcare.
He urged engineers to be happy with their occupation 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
