INDUSTRIALIZATION, SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISE AND THE POTENTIAL FOR THE GROWTH OF THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY

Nigeria started with Singapore and today Singapore is a first world nation. In fact as the story goes, Singapore came to Nigeria to learn about palm kernel and its oil and today Singapore is the largest exporter of palm oil.

What did they do differently? Identified the commercial value of a particular produce and then commercialized it in full scale.

Nigeria has a lot of such marketable produce and if fully explored can fetch huge revenue for the government and people of Nigeria.

Take for Instance:
the shoe factory in Aba; Nigeria imports lots of shoes from China. Most of these shoes are low in quality, you have to take it to your cobbler to 'sew' them. What is the difference between these shoes and Aba made shoes? With a little help and support from government and private investors, the shoe factory in Aba can rival the bests in the world.

Take for other examples:

Fruits that are readily available in the country

Tomatoes

The Cocoa plantations

And very recently, Innoson's automobile Industry.

With all these resources and the vast human resources, Nigeria can develop from a third world nation to a nation competing with super powers(the advanced countries).

Imagine the tidal effect; the creation of jobs at all levels and the small and medium scale enterprise that could be borne out of these industries.

This is what Philipines is currently doing. They are gradually building up their manufacturing sector from shoes to sardines to chocolates e.t.c. Philipines is waking up. Their movies says it all.

Food is so cheap in america today that its people are battling with overeating. It can be like that in Nigeria too.

Government should also continue in its strive to lift  people out of poverty. It would also go a long way in boosting the economy and reducing poverty.

Lastly it takes a will from leadership and unity from all the sectors of the Nigerian populace to make this work.

The time is ripe, the time is now to make this happen. I'm on board. Won't you join me?