CICAN calls for policy stability, stronger media incentives, Africa-wide manufacturing collaboration

L-R: Director-General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir; National Chairman, Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria, Comrade Taiwo Hassan, and President MAN, Otunba Francis Meshioye, during the 2025 MAN Personality Award event, held in Lagos, on Thursday.

Stanley Ihedigbo

National Chairman of the Commerce and Industry Association of Nigeria (CICAN), Comrade Taiwo Hassan, has called for greater policy consistency, full implementation of the Nigeria First policy, and stronger incentives for journalists covering the manufacturing sector, describing the industry as the liveline of Nigeria’s economy.

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 Luncheon, held on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at MAN House, Ikeja, Lagos.

The event was attended by key stakeholders in Nigeria’s manufacturing and media sectors, including the President of MAN, Otunba Francis Meshioye; Vice President, Lagos Zone, Prince Felix Oba-Okojie; Chairman, Corporate Affairs and Strategic Planning Committee, Mrs. Kofo Akinkugbe, OON; Director-General of MAN, Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, mni, as well as directors, branch chairmen, and senior journalists.

Hassan described his presence at the event as symbolic, coming barely two weeks after the inauguration of a new CICAN executive following the association’s successful election on January 15, 2026.

He reaffirmed CICAN’s role as a strategic partner to MAN in advocating for the Nigerian manufacturing sector through credible media reportage.

He lamented the impact of frequent policy reversals by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), noting that such policy “somersaults” have disrupted operations, revenues, and long-term planning for local manufacturers.

According to him, the manufacturing sector remains central to Nigeria’s economic transformation and GDP growth, particularly at a time when the country is pushing aggressively to diversify away from oil dependence.

Hassan cited recent data from the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), which reported $6.1 billion in non-oil exports in 2025, describing the achievement as a positive scorecard for the manufacturing sector.

He commended MAN and its members for their contributions to the milestone.
Speaking on the Federal Government’s Nigeria First policy, the CICAN chairman said the association is eager to see the policy fully implemented, stressing that CICAN would continue to stand with MAN in driving economic growth and industrial development.

He also applauded MAN for sustaining the Media Personality Awards for a decade, describing it as a vital platform for rewarding excellence among journalists covering commerce and industry across print, broadcast, and online media.

Hassan, a five-time recipient of the award, appealed to MAN’s leadership to commercialise the awards by allowing key manufacturing companies to sponsor them, with a view to increasing prize money to between ₦500,000 and ₦1 million.

He argued that higher rewards would boost participation, competitiveness, and the quality of manufacturing sector reportage, drawing comparisons with the maritime industry, where regulators such as NIMASA offer prizes of ₦1 million and above to outstanding reporters.

Looking beyond Nigeria, Hassan advocated for repositioning CICAN as a continental hub for manufacturing reportage, aligning with the commencement of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He said his leadership intends to link CICAN with manufacturing media associations across West Africa and the wider African continent, mirroring MAN’s leadership role in the Pan-African Manufacturers Association (PAMA).

In a major announcement, the CICAN chairman revealed plans to introduce a nationwide Made-in-Nigeria Media Day, aimed at promoting local production and consumption.

He said the initiative would be executed in collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), MAN, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and other relevant agencies.

The proposed celebration would include wearing locally made fabrics, exhibitions, and nationwide media awareness campaigns in support of the Federal Government’s Made-in-Nigeria agenda.

In his concluding remarks, Hassan congratulated the winners of the 2026 MAN Media Personality Awards and reaffirmed CICAN’s commitment to supporting MAN’s advocacy efforts through responsible and development-driven journalism.

“CICAN will always be there for MAN, just as we rely on MAN for positive engagement with the media,” he said, while offering prayers for Nigeria and the continued growth of the manufacturing sector.