Steel operators urged to embrace sustainable manufacturing

Nigeria’s steel manufacturers have been urged to embrace sustainable manufacturing across their operations to reduce emissions to reasonable levels.

Director of Tax Reporting and Strategy, PWC, Kenneth Erikume, stated this at the 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Basic Metal, Iron and Steel and Fabricated Metal Product sectoral group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) recently.

Held at MAN House in Lagos, the theme of the gathering was ‘Sustainable Metal Manufacturing: Navigating the Challenges of Green Production in Nigeria’s Industrial Sector.’

He defined sustainability as the process of meeting today’s needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

He said manufacturers must restrict the use of production materials that are not environmentally friendly and replace them with eco-friendly materials.

“Mining activities must be undertaken in a green and inclusive manner that contributes to value-addition, job creation, and economic transformation,” he added.

On how steelmakers can transition to sustainable production, he urged the participants to start producing their goods without negatively impacting the environment while paying competitive wages to retain employees.

He also emphasised the need to transform sustainable power sources into power factories and collaborate with higher institutions of learning to identify and train talents, noting that people are key in building any sustainable business. He identified the numerous challenges in the industry, noting that the sector is considered a high risk owing to its few success stories.

During the AGM, new executives were elected.

Managing Director/CEO, Sunsteel Industries Limited, Olalekan Adewoye, emerged president with Anu Agarwal of African Industries as vice president. Outgoing president, Yusuf Kamoru, insisted that the sector is an important one and pivotal to the growth of the economy.

He noted that despite the tough operating business environment and numerous challenges, opportunities still abound in the sector.

He appreciated the outgoing executives while pledging support to the new executives and urged them to take the sector to greater heights.

Director-General, MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said he looks forward to leaders who will passionately drive the sector’s advocacy at all levels, champion strategic initiatives, and push for reforms that will enhance the sector’s capacity to compete effectively in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the global market.

The DG, who was represented by the Director of Special Purpose Vehicles, MAN, Ambrose Oruche, highlighted some achievements of the outgoing president such as the successful suspension of the establishment of a Metal Scrap Dumpster, which, according to him, would have posed significant challenges to their operations.

The newly elected president, Adewoye, assured members that their needs would be taken care of irrespective of their size while committing to serve with strength and vigour.