The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) is seeking the entrance of fresh domestic and foreign investment into the Nigerian economy. It assured investors of its commitment to advocating for a business environment that supports local content development, fair competition, improved access to raw materials and growing technology.
The association made this known at the just-concluded West Africa Coating Show (WACS), stressing that it would continue to work closely with policymakers to eliminate barriers and promote a regulatory environment that supports innovation and industrial growth.
Organised by DMG Events in partnership with the Paints Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMA), the event held in Lagos with players in the coatings industry in West Africa converging to showcase the latest innovations, equipment and raw materials in the sector.
Featuring 110 leading brands from 12 countries, the three-day event offered stakeholders access to cutting-edge knowledge, transformative partnerships and emerging market intelligence that could drive product competitiveness, export readiness and environmental compliance.
Speaking, MAN Director General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, who was represented by Assistant Director, Sectoral and Regulatory Affairs, MAN, Oluchi Odimuko, commended the organisers and acknowledged the critical role the coatings and allied industries play in the broader industrial ecosystem from infrastructure to automotive, construction and packaging, adding that coatings are indispensable to product durability, aesthetics, safety and environmental performance.
Associate Vice President, DMG Events, Paddy O’Neill, hailed PMA, noting that the show was an ideal platform to engage with influential decision-makers and leading industry players, meet with new and existing customers from the region, gather insight on the latest solutions available in the paint and coatings market and have meaningful, face-to-face business interactions.
Chairman, PMA Nigeria, Abimbola Babatunde, said West Africa is blessed with abundant natural resources, which should be harnessed and used for the development of the sub-region and the good of the people, as this will reduce the ‘japa’, syndrome, create employment opportunities for the youths and eliminate vices. He noted that multinational companies across the globe are looking at emerging markets and West Africa, middle East, South East Asia and South Africa are the new destinations; adding that Nigeria and Ghana are the major emerging markets in West Africa.
Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Ifeanyi Okeke, noted that the event remains a vital platform for fostering innovation, collaboration and excellence within the paints and coatings industry.
Represented by the Group Head, Chemical Technology, SON, Paul Pankes, he said the programme aligns with SON’s mandate of promoting quality safety and environmental sustainability through standardisation and compliance.
He reaffirmed SON’s commitment to supporting manufacturers, innovators and entrepreneurs in achieving global competitiveness through adherence to international best practices.
Director-General, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso, noted that the paints industry remains a vital component of national industrial development, contributing significantly to employment generation, housing, construction, automotive finishing and national aesthetics.
Armed with the mandate to promote the development and optimal utilisation of local raw materials as inputs for industries, he said the RMRDC has, over the years, invested in research and development, as well as the promotion of local content, to strengthen the industry’s value chain.
Coordinator, Lagos RMRDC office, Oluwasola Marinho, who spoke on behalf of Ike-Muonso, said the organisation is actively engaging industry stakeholders through policy dialogues, technical workshops and exhibitions, ensuring that research outcomes are effectively transferred to end-users and manufacturers.
He disclosed that the organisation is also in the process of upscaling pilot projects on resin production using indigenous feed stocks, aimed at bridging a critical gap in the local supply chain and significantly reducing FX outflows associated with resin imports.
He said by harnessing the nation’s natural resources and aligning them with modern production techniques, the paints industry can become self-reliant, competitive and export-oriented.
