Justifying the need for the workshop, SPAR’s Deputy Managing Director, Prakash Keswani in an interview with journalists said his company appreciates the enterprise and industry that goes into the production of most of the local products, hence its decision to lend a helping hand towards promoting the brands.
“We believe that these wonderful entrepreneurs are putting their sweat and blood into what they are doing so the workshop is just to let them know what they need to do differently in order to take their products to the next level,” he said.
The SPAR boss further reiterated that the company decided to provide the platform for the SMEs because it is optimistic that they are potential big businesses of the future.
Keswani who hinted of plans to promote the local brands across its retail outlets in Nigeria, Africa and beyond, however admitted that the first thing is to ensure that such products meet the necessary standards as that would open more opportunities for the local brands outside the shores of the country.
Speaking earlier, an elated Ms Doris Onwugamba, Managing Director, MAN (Manufacturers Resource Centre), said this is the first time MAN is showcasing made in Nigeria products in a chain store. According to her, this is all part of buy made in Nigeria goods campaign being embarked upon by MAN and sister agencies across the country. “We’re taking this campaign all over Nigeria and hope to forge a synergy of cooperation with other major retail stores across the country,” she said.
On Nigerians, who still have the notion that nothing good can come out of local products, the MAN boss had this to say: “Those who have the mindset that made in Nigeria goods are inferior are saying so out of ignorance. They should simply wake up and smell the coffee. Today, I can boldly say that made in Nigeria goods are well-made if not better than products overseas and that is why MAN has joined in the vanguard of those promoting these locally-made products.”
Speaking with a cross-section of over 50 participating SMEs, including Olisa Amede-Achigale, MD/CEO, Bosaz Global Ventures, Posh International Ltd, the only indigenous company manufacturing hairdryers and other related equipment, Yetunde Ilesanmi, Director, La’becha Craft, and a host of others, they were full of thanks to the management of SPAR for affording them the opportunity to grow new clientele under their platform.
Source : The Nation Newspaper
