By Bashir Bello, Abuja
The Vice President of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Olakunle Alake, and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NASCON Allied Industries Plc, Aderemi Saka, have called for greater investment in industrial hubs and value addition to accelerate Nigeria’s economic growth, strengthen local manufacturing and enhance the competitiveness of domestic industries.
Speaking at the CEO Forum of the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, Mr. Alake, who was represented by Isa Yusuf Aruwa, said Dangote Group was taking the lead in promoting industrial hubs as catalysts for economic growth, citing the proposed Dangote Olokola Industrial Hub in Ondo State as a key example of the Group’s commitment to industrial development.
He said co-locating businesses would enable them to achieve economies of scale, reduce operational costs, generate more employment opportunities and facilitate knowledge sharing.
“An integrated industrial hub offers the opportunity to address several constraints together: energy, logistics, manufacturing infrastructure and access to markets. But the wider economic benefits will depend on how deliberately we connect the investment to the surrounding economy,” he added.
He said the “wider success of an industrial hub will be measured by the productive
businesses that grow around it.”
According to him, large industrial companies can support smaller firms through technical mentoring, supplier assessments, apprenticeships, access to testing and clearly structured procurement opportunities.
Meanwhile, speaking on ‘Productivity Revolution for Growth’ the Managing Director of NASCON Allied Industries Plc, Mrs. Aderemi Saka called for a comprehensive review of the manufacturing value chain, particularly the sourcing of raw materials, packaging inputs and other essential components required for seamless production.
“Where do the raw materials come from. Do we have small companies that can produce them locally and add value to bigger businesses. Do we have the capacity to source raw materials on a large scale to ensure seamless production?” she asked.
Saka also explained the importance of equipping workers with the technical and professional skills required to drive productivity in a rapidly evolving industrial environment.
She explained that the Dangote Group, under the leadership of its President and Chief Executive, Aliko Dangote, remains committed to nurturing young Nigerian talent through structured training programmes and targeted capacity-building initiatives.
The Dangote Industries Limited is one of the sponsors of the 32nd edition of the Nigerian Economic Summit.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier commended the Dangote Group for its outstanding contributions to the Nigerian economy.
