Elochukwu Benjamin
Awka
Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo believes that if Nigerians wholly embrace locally made products, the nation could create more than 10 million jobs while accelerating economic growth and reducing poverty across the country.
Soludo stated this while speaking on Monday at the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit held in Asaba, where he also revealed that Nigeria’s economy has regained macroeconomic stability and is now better positioned to attract local and foreign investments.
The governor, who apologised for arriving 15 minutes late due to traffic in Onitsha, remarked that the congestion was evidence that the long-observed Monday sit-at-home in the South-East had effectively ended.
“Experiencing traffic in Onitsha on a Monday can only mean one thing: the Monday sit-at-home is over,” he said.
Speaking on the state of the economy, Soludo said recent economic reforms had significantly improved Nigeria’s macroeconomic fundamentals, describing the current outlook as a major improvement from the situation before 2023.
“The country has witnessed a reversal of capital flight, with foreign exchange reserves and exchange rate stability creating a more favourable environment for investors.
“This improved economic climate presents fresh opportunities for states to attract investment and stimulate development,” he said.
Soludo maintained that economic transformation would require stronger collaboration among states rather than isolated efforts.
Describing Delta and Anambra as “twin cities,” he said both states should deepen regional cooperation to unlock shared economic opportunities, especially through Anambra’s planned economic free-trade zone and aerotropolis project.
The governor called for pragmatic efforts to ensure that the investment summit translates into concrete business deals capable of creating jobs and improving livelihoods.
He also advocated a coordinated national development strategy that would convert the country’s improving macroeconomic indicators into measurable gains in employment and poverty reduction.
Highlighting the importance of local production, Soludo said Nigeria could unlock millions of jobs if citizens deliberately patronised goods produced within the country.
Using his attire as an example, he revealed that he now wears Akwete fabric almost exclusively after being introduced to it by his daughter in 2019.
According to him, the increased patronage has improved the income and livelihoods of women involved in weaving the fabric.
He commended efforts to expand Akwete fabric production and maintained that widespread support for Made-in-Nigeria products would significantly boost local industries and employment.
“I believe that if all of us commit to wearing only Made-in-Nigeria goods, more than 10 million jobs will be created,” Soludo said.
