Patronise made-in-Nigeria goods, NOA urges Nigerians
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Gombe state, has urged Nigerians and Gombe State residents to always patronise made-in-Nigeria goods.
The State Director of NOA, Adaline Patari gave the advice at a news conference in Gombe on Thursday.
Patari said it had become imperative in view of the numerous advantages of such patronage to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), economic prosperity, and the survival of industries in the country.
She said the impact of patronising commodities made in the country would have a positive impact on the citizens and help achieve the Federal Government’s economic diversification agenda.
Patari said that patronising Nigerian-made goods would also help reduce the high rate of unemployment, help industries operate at high capacity and prevent capital flight as well as improve the value of the naira to other foreign currencies.
She stated that the economy of any nation would grow rapidly when locally made products are promoted through patronage.
“First by its people then through export: charity they say begins at home.
“No nation can truly develop when its economy is at the mercy of foreign products and services.
“The most developed nations of the world are those whose economies are based on production,” she said.
According to the NOA official, the attitude of Nigerians in preferring foreign goods based on claims that such products were of superior quality is “worrisome and economically dangerous.”
“There are many industries and commercial enterprises in Nigeria producing consumable goods and household products, however, not many Nigerians patronise such products,” she said.
She said it was part of patriotism for Nigerians to eat what the country produced in line with the desire of President Muhammadu Buhari as a way of boosting local production and economy while reducing importation.
Patari said that the negative attitudes of Nigerians towards domestic products had made local manufacturers resort to deceptive branding of their products by packaging them with foreign labels and tags.
She said it was wrong for manufacturers to engage in such acts, advising them to be “proud of Nigeria, their products while making efforts to improving the standard of their products.”
The state director appealed to all Nigerians to change their attitude towards locally made goods and services.
This, according to her, would enable the revival of local industries, the creation of employment, and the restoration of national pride.
She commended the Federal Government’s efforts at ensuring that made-in-Nigeria goods were patronised.
Patari also lauded Nigerians who have made it a duty to patronise only made in Nigerian goods, adding; “that is the way to grow.”
Patronise made-in-Nigeria goods, NOA urges Nigerians
