The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has commended the Bank of Industry (BOI) for its unwavering commitment to promoting green and sustainable industrial practices in Nigeria.
MAN’s Director General, Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, made this remark at the opening session of the Global Environment Facility-United Nations Industrial Development Organization (GEF-UNIDO) Industrial Energy Efficiency (IEE) and Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) Project Workshop for BOI and other key stakeholders.
Ajayi-Kadir highlighted BOI’s crucial role in managing the financing component of the project, ensuring that manufacturers have the necessary resources to adopt energy-efficient technologies and cleaner production methods.
“This financial support is essential in helping industries across Nigeria embrace systems that reduce energy consumption, lower operational costs, and contribute to sustainable development. I commend the Bank of Industry for its dedication to fostering green and sustainable industrial practices in Nigeria,” he stated.
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The five-day technical capacity-building workshop, hosted at Ibom Icon Hotel & Golf Resort, Uyo, marks a major milestone in advancing sustainability within Nigeria’s manufacturing sector. Ajayi-Kadir emphasized the importance of industrial energy efficiency and resource optimization to enhance competitiveness while reducing environmental impact.
“This workshop reflects our collective commitment to transforming Nigeria’s manufacturing sector by adopting resource efficiency and cleaner production methodologies while ensuring environmental sustainability,” he added.
The project’s primary goal is to encourage the adoption of IEE and RECP methodologies across Nigerian industries through:
Structured capacity-building programs
Provision of technical expertise and equipment
A revolving credit guarantee fund to facilitate industrial transformation
Ajayi-Kadir lauded GEF and UNIDO for their support in equipping BOI and selected financial institutions with the necessary tools to drive this initiative.
The workshop aims to:
Provide stakeholders with insights into the GEF-UNIDO IEE & RECP Nigeria project framework
Introduce participants to ISO 50001 and ISO 14001 standards for energy and environmental management
Equip stakeholders with the knowledge required for the successful execution of Component Three of the project
Create a platform for experience-sharing to accelerate implementation across financial institutions
Urging participants to fully engage in the workshop, Ajayi-Kadir stated:
“Your presence here underscores your commitment to the success of this project and the advancement of Industrial Energy Efficiency and Resource Efficient Cleaner Production practices in Nigeria.”
Collaboration for a Greener Future
In his presentation, Mr. Oluyomi Banjo, UNIDO Nigeria’s National Programme Coordinator for Environment and Energy—represented by Mr. Oladipo Jacob, National Project Coordinator for GEF-UNIDO IEE & RECP Nigeria—revealed that the project commenced in 2020.
Key stakeholders in this initiative include:
Bank of Industry (BOI)
Federal Ministry of Power
Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)
National Universities Commission (NUC)
National Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC)
Federal Ministry of Science and Technology
The event also featured specialized training sessions on “Project Management I” and “Project Management II”, facilitated by Mr. Chinedu Onyekwelu of Ernst & Young Business Consulting.
With continued collaboration between stakeholders, the project is set to drive Nigeria’s manufacturing sector toward greater sustainability, efficiency, and global competitiveness.
