The federal government on Thursday unveiled a road map aimed at reviving the country’s ailing industries, and making Nigeria a major producer, and exporter of manufactured goods.
The Minister of State, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments (MITI), Senator John Owan Enoh, at the inauguration of the Industrial Revolution Work Group (IRWG) at the Bank of Industry (BOI) in Abuja, explained the administration`s focus of revitalising dormant industries, enhancing global competitiveness and expanding export markets, infrastructure and energy solutions, as well technology, innovation and workforce development.
The minister explained that the group, the first of its kind, will also “conduct a meticulous audit of industries that once thrived but have since stagnated, formulating bespoke intervention strategies for their resurgence.
“Our industries must not only cater to local demands but must also be positioned to compete on the international stage, leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and broader global trade alliances.
“No industrial revolution can succeed without reliable infrastructure, robust logistics networks, and a stable power supply. We will collaborate with key stakeholders to systematically dismantle these bottlenecks.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution is upon us. Nigeria must embrace digital transformation, automation, and a research-driven industrial ecosystem to secure its rightful place in the global economy.”
IRWG was created to lead the transformation of the country`s industrial landscape to serve as Nigeria`s one-stop hun for industrial transformation, and to drive the reengineering country`s industrial sector.
According to the Minister of State, the group supports the federal Government-approved Presidential Council on Industrial Revitalization Roadmap, established in October 2023 and chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.
He further disclosed that through engagement with stakeholders, it would bridge the country`s present and future as an industrial leader.
Senator Onah also disclosed that “no nation has ascended to economic greatness without establishing a formidable industrial foundation. The industrial powerhouses of our time—Germany, China, South Korea, and the United States—exemplify that economic sovereignty is deeply anchored in manufacturing, innovation, and value creation. Nigeria must now embark on this journey with boldness and clarity of vision.
“We are blessed with vast natural resources, an industrious and youthful population, and an entrepreneurial spirit that is second to none. What we require now is a deliberate, structured, and results-oriented industrial roadmap. Today marks the beginning of that journey.
“The Industrial Revolution Work Group is an important initiative aimed at economic development.
The IRWG is established with an unequivocal purpose: to design, champion, and implement industrial strategies that will resurrect dormant industries, empower the next generation of manufacturers, and strategically integrate Nigeria into the global industrial economy. This is not a pursuit of superficial aspirations; it is a quest for measurable, tangible, and paradigm-shifting achievements.”
While calling for private and public sector support in achieving the initiative, he warned “The journey ahead will undoubtedly present challenges, but history will not measure us by the magnitude of the obstacles; rather, it will judge us by our resolve to surmount them. Nigeria must transcend its role as a mere consumer economy. We must produce, we must innovate, and we must lead.
I extend a resolute invitation to every stakeholder—government bodies, private sector pioneers, global investors, and forward-thinking entrepreneurs—to recognize this endeavor as a national imperative. The IRWG is not simply a governmental initiative; it is a collaborative mission that requires the collective ingenuity, resilience, and ambition of us all. Our doors remain open to all who share this vision and are prepared to contribute meaningfully to its realization.”
On his part, former Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, who presented a keynote address at the inauguraation lamented decades of industrial stagnation, regretting that once-thriving industries have succumbed to inefficiencies, outdated policies, infrastructural decay, and global competition.He said by bringing together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors, IRWG “will drive a targeted and structured process to tackle the pressing challenges facing Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, resuscitate moribund industries, and create an enabling environment for sustainable industrial growth.”
“Globally, industrialization has been the backbone of every advanced economy. From China’s manufacturing revolution to Germany’s precision engineering and the United States’ industrial supremacy, the common denominator remains a deliberate policy framework that fosters industrial competitiveness. Nigeria must follow suit.
“Industrialization is not just about factories; it is about jobs, innovation, self-reliance, and economic resilience. It is about transforming our abundant natural resources into value-added products that serve both local and global markets. It is about ensuring that made-in-Nigeria is not just a label but a globally recognized mark of quality and ingenuity.
“The IRWG has been entrusted with an immense responsibility: to identify, analyze, and rehabilitate industries that once contributed significantly to our GDP but have since been neglected. This is not merely an economic necessity but a patriotic duty.
A revitalized textile sector means jobs for thousands; a functional steel industry means infrastructure development; a flourishing agro-processing industry means food security.”
This is as he maintained the need for collaboration, adding that “No government, no matter how well-intentioned, can singlehandedly drive industrial transformation. The private sector must play a leading role in this journey.
“This is why the IRWG’s membership structure is so vital—it brings together the government as an enabler, the private sector as the engine of growth, and academia as the knowledge repository that fuels innovation and skills development.
“I urge our industry leaders and captains of commerce to see this as more than just another initiative but rather as a national imperative — one that requires full participation, commitment, and accountability.
“Our collective success will be measured not in policies but in the factories that reopen, the jobs that are created, and the economic prosperity that follows.
“At the helm of this transformative initiative is Senator John Owan Enoh, Honourable Minister of State for Industry, who has shown remarkable leadership, dedication, and vision in championing Nigeria’s industrial resurgence.
“His commitment to ensuring that industrialization remains a key driver of economic growth under the Renewed Hope Agenda is commendable. His office stands as a bridge between policy formulation and execution, ensuring that industrial stakeholders have a direct voice in shaping Nigeria’s manufacturing future.
Let me also commend the Honourable Minister at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, for her partnership in ensuring that industrial development remains at the forefront of our national agenda. The synergy between both Ministers must be harnessed to its fullest potential to ensure seamless implementation and measurable impact.”
Dr Aganga`s remarks read in part, “As we launch the IRWG today, we must all recognize that this is not merely a ceremonial event but the beginning of a decade-defining journey.
“The success of this initiative hinges on clear execution strategies with measurable milestones, strict adherence to timelines and accountability frameworks, ontinuous engagement with local and international investors, a shared commitment to the principles of industrial excellence
“To our partners in government, industry, finance, and academia—this is our moment. Let history remember us as the generation that refused to let Nigeria remain a consumer economy, that fought to revive our industries, and that took bold and decisive steps to create an industrial revolution worthy of the greatness of this nation.
“In conclusion, Nigeria stands on the precipice of transformation. Let us seize this opportunity with the determination and foresight it demands. The Industrial Revolution Work Group is not just another initiative—it is the foundation of a new economic dawn.
“To the Honourable Ministers, the distinguished stakeholders, and all gathered here today—I charge you to take this mission to heart, to push beyond obstacles, and to remain steadfast in our shared vision of a truly industrialized Nigeria.
Together, we shall build. Together, we shall transform. Together, we shall win.”
