Eye witness reports
The National Orientation Agency (NOA), has called for more increased patronage on made-in-Nigeria products and services to support the Nation’s economic growth.
Dr Desmond Onwo, the Agency’s Director in Ebonyi made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abakaliki.
Onwo said that such patronage could encourage Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and job creations.
“We can conserve the scarce resources extended to import from outside when we patronize made-in-Nigeria products.
“NOA has the plan to launch the programme “Patronize Made-in-Nigeria Goods” in Ebonyi on May 17.
“We have been meeting with Churches, markets, schools and various stakeholders at the grassroots level at ensuring we patronizes our own goods and services.
“The need to patronize made in Nigeria products and services cannot be over emphasized as it is the major way to economic growth and development.
“When we patronize the Nation’s goods, the economy grows rapidly. The campaign is targeting audiences in agro allied industries, textile producers, leather works entrepreneurs amongst others
“The developed nations of the world are those, whose economies are based on production.
“We suffer the desire-for-foreign goods syndrome because of social symbols and the claim that foreign products are superior to their locally-made substitutes,” the Director stated.
He reiterated NOA’s commitment to the campaign and pointed out that it would never relent because it rekindles the Nigerian enterprenual and patriotic spirit for wealth creations.
“We move to reorientate people attitude and mind towards the use of foreign products instead of ours. Nigeria is a country with natural resources and only Nigerians can change Nigeria,” Onwo added.
“The local rice is now selling across the market because we founded the differences with the foreign rice. Let us continue to promote our products to revive the economy.