CICAN Chair Seeks Stronger Media Support, policy stability to fast track growth in Organised Private Sector

 

By allcitynews.ng 

Journalists covering the Real  Sector,  under the umbrella of Commerce and Industry Association of Nigeria is set to reposition CICAN with Organised Private Sector (OPS) by having all inclusive constant interactive sessions.

The move is aim to relink CICAN through a robust relationship with all members of the OPS  by bridging the past missing gaps.

The National Chairman of the Commerce and Industry Association of Nigeria (CICAN), Comrade Taiwo Hassan, who  made this known,  called for stronger collaboration between industry stakeholders and the media.

Just as he disclosed that CICAN would soon introduce a nationwide Made-in-Nigeria Media Day, in collaboration with agencies such as FMITI, MAN, NACCIMA, NECA and SON, to promote local products, fabrics and brands through coordinated media advocacy.

According to Hassan, the need for policy stability from government, and enhanced rewards for journalists covering Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, is a task that must be done for the sector to enjoy good reportage from the media.

Hassan made the call while delivering an address at the 10th Edition of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Media Personality of the Year Award and Presidential Media Luncheon, held on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at MAN House, Ikeja, Lagos.

The event brought together MAN leadership, captains of industry, senior government and corporate executives, and members of the commerce and industry press, marking a decade of recognising excellence in manufacturing sector reportage.

Hassan described the invitation by MAN as symbolic, noting that it came barely two weeks after the inauguration of a new CICAN executive following elections held on January 15, 2026.

He reaffirmed CICAN’s role as a strategic partner to MAN, stressing that the association remains the collective voice of journalists reporting Nigeria’s manufacturing sector and a key driver of advocacy through informed and responsible media engagement.

Hassan lamented the impact of frequent policy reversals by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), saying such inconsistencies have posed serious challenges to local manufacturers, disrupted operations, and weakened revenue generation across the sector.

According to him, the manufacturing sector remains a vital pillar of Nigeria’s economy and a critical contributor to GDP growth, industrialisation, job creation and economic emancipation, especially at a time of global and domestic economic pressures.

He cited recent data from the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), which reported a record $6.1 billion in non-oil exports in 2025, describing the milestone as a strong indicator of Nigeria’s gradual shift away from oil dependence.

Hassan credited MAN and its members for playing a major role in driving the non-oil export growth, noting that the achievement underscores the importance of sustaining manufacturing-friendly policies and a stable operating environment.

On government reforms, the CICAN chairman expressed optimism about the Federal Government’s “Nigeria First” policy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging full implementation to strengthen local production and protect indigenous manufacturers.

He assured MAN that CICAN would continue to support the association’s advocacy efforts and remain aligned with initiatives aimed at boosting industrial growth and national economic competitiveness.

Hassan also commended MAN for sustaining the Media Personality Awards over the past decade, describing the initiative as a vital platform for rewarding excellence and professionalism among print, broadcast and online journalists covering the manufacturing sector.

Drawing from personal experience as a five-time recipient of the award, he appealed to MAN to commercialise the scheme by allowing leading manufacturing companies to sponsor it, with a view to increasing prize money and competitiveness.

He proposed that the first prize be raised to between ₦500,000 and ₦1 million, noting that similar incentives already exist in other sectors, such as maritime journalism, where top reporters receive higher rewards.

Looking ahead, Hassan revealed plans to reposition CICAN as a continental hub for manufacturing reportage, aligning with MAN’s leadership role within the Pan-African Manufacturers Association (PAMA) in the era of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

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