By Adesina Wahab

Former Director-General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Dr. Muda Yusuf, has said that for Nigerians and others to appreciate the country and identify with it, positive things about it must be amplified.

He stated this on Saturday while presenting the keynote address at the 2025 National Investiture Ceremony of the Institute of Certified Sales Professionals, ICSP, in Lagos.

Speaking on the theme, “Overcoming the challenges of selling Nigeria to Nigerians,” Yusuf, who is the current chief executive of Centre for Promotion of Private Entreprise, CPPE, said:  “Some citizens of the country are finding it difficult having faith in it because we are not amplifying the good and positive things about it.

‘’There is no country without its own peculiar challenges and those countries people look up to have their own issues too. In Nigeria, many great things are happening. Many positive things are being done and accomplished by individuals and even at government level. However, we keep amplifying those bad and negative things.

“Somehow, that is being transferred to goods made in the country. Because of poor perception of some people, they don’t want to identify with things made here. That is why you see a situation where a product is made in the country and is labeled as being made abroad because the makers know that Nigerians would fall for foreign items.

“Government has a lot of work to do regarding national orientation and the citizens should also know that they have no other country but Nigeria and that supporting the country is in the best interest of all.’’

He said government procurement policy must support the patronage of products made in Nigeria and that domestic manufacturers must be supported by the government.

Listing some areas where the government would need to come in to tackle the challenges of selling Nigerian products, Yusuf opined that getting the issue of cost and price right was vital.

“Government must handle the issue of power supply, high cost of transportation, import duties, interest rates, among others. Those things that are making production difficult and increasing the cost of production must be looked into,” he stated.

In his speech, the President of the ICSP, Arthur Ozoigbo, said those being inducted were high achievers already, adding that they were being recognized to inspire them for higher level exploits.

“We are recognizing you to be role models and inspire others to even excel in achievements. Sales job is not for a lazy person. But I would advise you not to forget integrity. Don’t cut corners. I am talking from experience. Don’t also fall into temptation of corruption too. We stand for integrity in this institute,” he said.