The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has called on African countries to prioritise value addition in their production processes as a means of strengthening industrial capacity and economic growth.

The association said Africa continues to export large volumes of raw materials while importing finished goods, a pattern it described as limiting the continent’s industrial development.

It noted that improving value addition across sectors would help African economies maximise the benefits of their natural resources.

Speaking on the issue, the Director-General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said value addition is critical to building a sustainable industrial base across the continent.

He said: “Africa must shift from exporting raw materials to processing and adding value to its resources if it hopes to achieve meaningful industrial growth.”

Ajayi-Kadir explained that increasing local processing would help create jobs, improve income levels and reduce dependence on imports.

He added that strengthening manufacturing capacity would also enhance competitiveness and support long-term economic stability.

The MAN DG stressed the importance of policies that encourage industrialisation, including improved infrastructure, access to finance and support for manufacturers.

The association highlighted key challenges affecting industrial growth, including inadequate infrastructure, high production costs and limited access to financing.

It also noted that inconsistent policies and regulatory bottlenecks continue to hinder the development of the manufacturing sector.

Ajayi-Kadir said addressing these issues would be essential to achieving the desired level of industrial transformation across Africa.

MAN stated that prioritising value addition would enable African countries to derive more economic benefits from their resources while strengthening their industrial base.