By Esther Onyegbula

Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Export Group (MANEG), Odiri Erewa-Meggison, has called on women to take the lead in driving Africa’s industrialisation, stressing that inclusive manufacturing growth is critical to job creation, export expansion and economic resilience.
Erewa-Meggison made the call in Lagos during a goodwill message at the launch and business pitching ceremony of the Women in Industrialization and Innovation Initiative (WI³), held at the Oriental Hotel as part of activities marking International Women’s Day.

The MANEG chair, who also serves as Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Director at BAT Nigeria, said Nigeria’s quest for economic growth would remain constrained without deliberate efforts to scale women’s participation in manufacturing and value addition.

According to her, manufacturing currently contributes less than 10 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, a situation she described as inadequate for a country seeking large-scale employment and sustainable development.

“Nigeria needs large-scale job creation, yet manufacturing contributes less than 10 per cent to our GDP. This conversation is not just about women in business; it is about women in manufacturing, value addition, export growth and competitiveness,” she said.

She emphasised that women entrepreneurs must prioritise strong corporate governance, financial discipline and regulatory compliance to position their businesses for growth within the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area, which she valued at about $3 trillion.

Erewa-Meggison noted that only structured and well-governed enterprises would be able to compete effectively in the continental market, urging participants to build resilient systems that can attract investment and scale sustainably.

The WI³ Initiative, a flagship programme of Commonwealth Business Women Africa, is led by its Founder and Continental President, Ngozi Oyewole. The initiative is designed to support women-led industrial and innovation-driven enterprises across Africa through organised clusters, offtake agreements and strategic partnerships with development finance institutions.

The event attracted female entrepreneurs, industry leaders and key stakeholders from across Lagos State, with discussions centred on expanding opportunities for women in critical sectors such as agro-processing, light manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, packaging, consumer goods and digital production.

Highlighting the broader economic impact of women’s participation in industrialisation, Erewa-Meggison said increased involvement would strengthen local sourcing, boost employment and enhance export capacity.

“When women scale into structured manufacturing, local sourcing strengthens, jobs expand, exports grow and communities prosper. Industrialisation is a growth and resilience conversation, and women must play a central role in building that future,” she added.

She further reiterated MANEG’s commitment to promoting export capacity and fostering an enabling industrial ecosystem that supports women-led businesses to compete globally.