Friday, March 29, 2024

Thoughts on re-industrialising Africa

This year’s edition of Okpekpe International 10km Road Race, held on May 13, this year, was the fifth of its kind;but that is not the story.The story is that, it turned out an occasion for thoughtful debates on how the African continent can advance remarkably through reindustrialisation.

However, I particularly relish my association with the grand patron of the event, a two-term president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, two-term governor of Edo State and constant participant in the Okpekpe road race, ComradeAdams Oshiomhole.

He inaugurated the maiden edition of the race. Everybody hailed Oshiomhole who built the hitherto neglected 25 kilometers long road during his first term as governor of Edo State. The road was commissioned by then All Progressives Congress presidential candidate,President Muhammadu Buhari, in 2015.

Special commendation must go to his successor, Governor Godwin Obaseki for taking the race to a higher level. Okpekpe international 10kmroadrace is a practicaldividendof sustainable development and good governance. In Oshiomhole had said during the event, “I’m happy that the programme has outlived my tenure of office and that is the way it should be.

“It has direct impact on socio-economic and life, not only in Edo butthe country atlarge. The inflow of internationals due to the race will provide the necessary exposure for Okpekpe and the entire Edo state to develop even further”

. Today,Okpekpe international 10kmroadraceorganisedby Pamodzi Sports Marketing is the only road race in Nigeria that is recognised by both the International Association of Athletics Federations and AssociationofInternationalMarathons and Distance Races.

This year’s edition assumed special importance. Beyond the race for prize, 2017 edition provides for participation for other noble causes namely; orphanage, women empowerment, cancer and the cause championed by yours sincerely: reindustrialisation of the African continent. A lot of dignitaries graced the event and also participated in the race to either create awareness for cancer, run for orphanage or ‘run to re-industrialise the country.’

Governor Godwin Obaseki’s wife, Betsy, and Oshiomhole’s wife, Lara, promoted noble causes of women empower ment and orphanage, respectively.As the Vice President of IndustriALL Global Union, I ledthe over 200 worker-members of some of the Nigerian affiliate unionsof IndustriALL Global Union who with captioned T-shirts and banners, participated in the race for reindustrialising Africa.

IndustriALL Global Union with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland,represents 50million workers in 140 countries inthemanufacturingandmining, energy sectors, clamouring for better work conditions andtradeunionrights around the world. Africa is a wealthy continent, blessed with an abundance of raw materials.

Yet Africans don’t profit from this, because value is added further up the supply chain, after we keep on misguidedly to export the raw materials. Nigeria is a classic case. Crude oil is exported, while refined petroleum products are imported. In the process, millions of jobs are exported in a country with 50 per cent unemployment. South Africa and Ghana have abundant gold, platinum and diamond. They export them in raw forms while importing jewelries. Nigeria exports cotton and imports assorted smuggled fabrics. Africa unacceptably lacks comprehensive industrial policy.

It’s time Africa added value to its abundant raw materials through comprehensive beneficiation/value addition programme that would create millions of sustainable, decent jobs. Africans need to industrialise their economies to create quality, sustainable jobs, and lift people out of poverty. For industrialisation to succeed, we need infrastructure: effective transport and communication networks, reliable electricity supplies, anti-smuggling policy and a transparent regulatory framework.Africans must produce what they consume, consume what they produce.

This requires intervention and coordination by the African governments at all levels and also by regional and continental bodies. It also provided an opportunity to acknowledge and commend the Federal Government’s diversification policy. Recently Federal Government declared Mondays and Wednesdays every week, as Made-in-Nigeria Dress Days across the country, “as part of measures to uplift the nation’s culture and promote Made-in Nigeria textile products.” Patronage of local fabrics and indeed all locally produced goods should be every day’s commitment for 180 million buyers. Africans must wear what they produce and produce what they wear.

Inspired and energised by IndustriALL’s goal of ensuring Sustainable Industrial Development, African affiliates have taken industrial policy issues to government and employers on the urgent need for beneficiation and value addition in Africa.The race ispartofthe effort to build a momentum around 2017 Africa Industrialisation Day on 20th November through mass demonstrations and policy engagement with the Ministries of Trade and Investment in Africa. Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, was for once a star guest at this year’s edition with his added voice to IndustriALL’s Campaign. Witness him: “I concur with the movement of industrialisation and diversification of the Nigerian economy. Without industrialisation, there is no way we can move forward. With this, I associate with the campaign of workers, and as one of you, I also want to lend my voice that we must industrialise Nigeria.Forwardever,backward never.”

It is now an open knowledge that Ethiopian duo of Luel Gebrasilasis andAzmera Gebruemergedwinners inthe male and female categories. The fastest Nigerian female athlete in the race, Deborah Pam, finished in 38 minutes, 15 seconds and was followed by Elizabeth Nuhu from Nasarawa State in 38 minutes, 41 seconds; while Rose Ajusho came third in 38 minutes, 55 seconds.

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