•Unveils W’Africa IMT plan

The Minister of State for Industry, John Owan Enoh, said Nigeria stands to earn over N3 trillion in the next few months if the government effectively executes its nationwide Nigeria First Policy campaign.

Enoh stated this at a press conference announcing the upcoming West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing and Trade (West Africa IMT) Summit and Exhibition 2025.

The event, themed ‘Accelerating West Africa’s Sustainable Industrial Revolution for Economic Prosperity’, is scheduled to be held from 21 to 23 October 2025 in Lagos.

The Minister said the campaign aimed to first address Nigerians’ mindsets and attitudes on the need to reduce the thirst for foreign-made goods and support local industries to grow local capacity utilisation. He noted that in the past, governments had tried to push for industrial growth, culminating in Executive Orders 003 and 005.

Unveiling the agenda for the upcoming summit at the press conference, the organisers, dmg Nigeria Events, promised that besides setting the stage for one of the region’s most anticipated industrial gatherings, it would catapult the sector to new heights.

The summit will bring together key industry stakeholders in the West African region to engage in impactful dialogue and explore opportunities for public and private sector collaborations.

Central to the discourse are new strategies for implementing the National Industrial Policy and developing and scaling industries to transform the region’s economic future.

Enoh described the summit as a platform to accelerate Africa’s march towards true industrialisation.
“For too long, our progress has been tied to the export of raw materials. But the time has come to unlock the full potential of our industries, scale our MSMEs and harness our abundant manufacturing resources.

“Industrial growth is not just an economic imperative; it is the foundation for job creation, skills development and sustainable prosperity. This is why the ministry is not only endorsing West Africa IMT but is also fully committed to its success. This is because the future of our country and the region depends on how boldly we embrace industrialisation,” he said.

The conference showcased West Africa IMT’s mission of advancing industrialisation, manufacturing and technology innovation across the region, while highlighting the need for stakeholders to maximise the opportunities created by the AfCFTA.

The summit will focus on themes such as industrial policy, regional trade integration, infrastructure, access to finance and the role of technology in driving manufacturing competitiveness.

Country Director, Nigeria and Portfolio Director, Energy for dmg Nigeria events, Wemimo Oyelana, said the summit aimed to provide a platform to unlock West Africa’s true industrial potential.

“We are at a defining moment as a region, where the decisions we make around industrialisation, manufacturing and technology will shape our growth story for generations to come.

A story we must own and champion and our goal is to create an open space where the industrial ecosystem can come together not just to exchange ideas, but to build and implement practical solutions that strengthen industries, drive trade and create opportunities for our people. This summit is about accelerating an industrial revolution that is sustainable, inclusive and capable of delivering real impact for communities across West Africa,” she said.

She further noted that there would be a communiqué at the end of the summit to ensure accountability.

By creating space for open conversations and collaboration, she underscored West Africa IMT’s commitment to driving innovation, strengthening partnerships and accelerating sustainable industrial growth across the region.