The Chairman of Kwara and Kogi States Chapter of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Damilola Shittu, has said that 80 percent of employment opportunities in Nigeria are generated by the manufacturing sector.

Shittu stated this at the 11th Kwara Trade Fair organised by the Kwara Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (KWACCIMA) in Ilorin. He emphasised MAN’s dedication to producing highly competitive goods for consumption, ensuring safety standards, and contributing to the nation’s economic growth.

“We provide over 80% employment of the entire nation. For us, we believe the need to continue to thrive, thus, we remain committed to ensuring that our businesses excel. I commend your efforts and assure you that MAN will continue to support you,” Shittu stated. 

The industrialist commended the organisers of the fair, highlighting the substantial employment contribution by the manufacturing sector to the national workforce.

He stressed the importance of striving for excellence and establishing a strong presence in the global market, and urged all the stakeholders to continuously enhance their skills to compete effectively on a global scale.

In his remark, Deputy President of KWACCIMA and Chairman Organising Committee of the Trade Fair, Abu Salami, said that 88 exhibitors from various industries participated in the fair.

US manufacturing set to expand in 2025

Following a prolonged 

period of contraction, the US manufacturing sector is projected to expand in 2025 as economic improvement continues, according to the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) December 2024 Supply Chain Planning Forecast.  

Revenues are expected to increase in 17 of 18 manufacturing industries – including computers and high-tech — tracked by ISM.

“Manufacturing’s purchasing and supply executives are optimistic about overall business prospects for the first half of 2025 and more excited about faster growth in the second half,” said Tim Fiore, chair of the ISM’s monthly manufacturing business survey.

Manufacturing grew for 28 consecutive months from June 2020 through September 2022; was unchanged in October and dipped into contraction in November 2022, Fiore explained.

  

“The index has remained in contraction since, except for a reading of 50.3 percent in March 2024.”

Any reading above 50.0 signals industry expansion.

The manufacturing sector is projected to face some headwinds going into 2025.  

Although the incoming Trump administration is perceived as business-friendly, threats of tariffs on goods imported from China, Canada and Mexico have the potential to add to the cost of manufactured products. China’s recent ban of critical mineral exports to the United States also signals supply chain disruption for the tech sector.    

A lack of skilled labour continues to plague manufacturing, and factories expect to pay more for workers and benefits next year.

Sixty percent of ISM manufacturing survey respondents expect revenues to be greater in 2025 than in 2024. The panel forecasts a 4.2-percent net increase in overall revenues for 2025, compared with a 0.8 percentage point increase reported for 2024.