Manufacturers Association of Nigeria ( MAN) in conjunction with United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria ( SON) and other organisations organised a one day capacity building workshop for journalists in Lagos.

The Theme of the capacity building  ” Reporting techniques for Commerce and Industry, Energy and Environment Correspondents, on ” Industrial Energy Efficiency (IEE),Energy Management System (EnMS), Energy System Optimization ( ESO) and Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production (RECP) Methodologies ” in Nigeria” was held at the Golfview Hotel, GRA Ikeja, Lagos.

The one day training drawn stakeholders from the country’s manufacturing sector, experts from UNIDO, and other stakeholders in the country who are Keen to see that the country embrace ” Industrial Energy Efficiency (IEE) and Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production ( RECP) project.

The workshop is to create awareness on the importance of energy which will help in saving manufacturing cost for the manufacturers thereby reducing cost of production.

MAN Director General Dr Segun Ajayi – Kadir, Who was represented  by the organisation’s Director Corporate Services Mr Ambrose Oruche while presenting his opening remarks, stated that MAN is desirous that all his members embrace IEE and RECP in their production processes.

AJAYI-Kadiri said, Nigeria currently generate about 4,000 megawatt of electricity which is grossly inadequate irrespective of the country’s huge population.

He advised the local manufacturers to adopt IEE in their processes to reduce wastages, proper energy usage and cleaner production processes.

He called on the trained journalists  to educate the manufacturers and the publics perfectly to enable the project to succeed while UNIDO and other partners were commended for the project.

In his presentation, the National Project Coordinator Oladipo Jacob, said  the project was sponsored by UNIDO  and International Energy Technology to enable the local manufacturers to utilise energy more efficiently and reduce their wastages.

Jacob noted that energy consumed a large chunk of the production costs, adding that the journalists assemble for training are expected to use their various medium to pass out correct messages to the manufacturing  firms on energy cost measure, cost saving measures and cleaner and safer production processes to protect the people, environment they operate and the future.

The National Project Coordinator disclosed that the federal ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ministry of Environment, ECOWAS center for renewable energy, Bank of Industry ( BoI), National University Commission ( NUC), Nigeria Investment Promotion Council (NIPC)and other stakeholders are working together to see to the success of the project.

Jacob said five sub sectors in the manufacturing of food and beverage, iron and metal , textiles and garments, petrochemical and one other sub sector are in this first phase.

He stressed that Small and Medium enterprises ( SMEs), Medium and large enterprises in South -West, South – South, South – East and Northern region are all involved, adding that the project is domicile at MAN’s Secretariat, at Ikeja, Lagos.

According to UNIDO representative, Mr Oluyomi Banjo, the training for the media practitioners is borne out of the fact that media is key to the success or otherwise of any project.

“The media is the biggest and most reliable source of getting information, hence we are doing this capacity training to enable you report this project accurately,” he stressed.

Banjo pointed out that industry consumes about a third of the total energy available and his organisation is out to support 75 industries in five different sectors.

” The media has the ability to build or destroy. With proper training like this one, Nigeria media can be the best in the world,” he stressed.

In his presentation Engr Okon Ekpenyong , of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) disclosed that the project ought to have started in 2020, but has to commenced in May 2022 due to some reasons.

The ECN boss who was represented by Deola Fabiyi , disclosed that the project invoice industries in Abuja, Lagos , Benin City, Warri, Sapele, Port Harcourt, Kano and other cities will help in actualising IEE, RECP and ESO in the country’s industries.