CICAN Calls for Policy Stability, Stronger Media Incentives, and Africa-Wide Manufacturing Collaboration
The National Chairman of the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN), Comrade Taiwo Hassan, has emphasized the need for greater policy consistency, full implementation of the Nigeria First policy, and enhanced incentives for journalists covering the manufacturing sector. He described the industry as the heartbeat of Nigeria’s economy.
Hassan made this appeal during his address at the 10th Edition of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Media Personality of the Year Award and Presidential Luncheon, held on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at MAN House, Ikeja, Lagos.
The event was attended by prominent stakeholders from Nigeria’s manufacturing and media sectors, including MAN President Otunba Francis Meshioye; Vice President, Lagos Zone, Prince Felix Oba-Okojie; Chairman, Corporate Affairs and Strategic Planning Committee, Mrs. Kofo Akinkugbe, OON; Director-General of MAN, Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, mni; along with directors, branch chairmen, and senior journalists.
Hassan described his participation as symbolic, coming less than two weeks after the inauguration of a new CICAN executive following the association’s successful election on January 15, 2026.
He reaffirmed CICAN’s role as a strategic partner to MAN in advocating for Nigeria’s manufacturing sector through credible media reporting.
Expressing concern over the frequent policy reversals by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), Hassan lamented that such policy “summersaults” have disrupted operations, revenues, and long-term planning for local manufacturers.
He emphasized that the manufacturing sector remains vital to Nigeria’s economic transformation and GDP growth, especially as the country intensifies efforts to diversify away from oil dependence.
Citing recent data from the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), which reported $6.1 billion in non-oil exports in 2025, Hassan described this achievement as a positive indicator for the manufacturing industry. He commended MAN and its members for their contributions toward this milestone.
Regarding the Federal Government’s Nigeria First policy, Hassan stated that CICAN is eager to see it fully implemented. He reiterated CICAN’s commitment to supporting MAN in driving economic growth and industrial development.
He also praised MAN for sustaining the Media Personality Awards for a decade, calling it a crucial platform for recognizing excellence among journalists covering commerce and industry across print, broadcast, and online media.
A five-time recipient of the award himself, Hassan appealed to MAN’s leadership to commercialize the awards by allowing leading manufacturing companies to sponsor them, with the aim of increasing the prize money to between ₦500,000 and ₦1 million.
He argued that higher rewards would encourage greater participation, improve competitiveness, and elevate the quality of manufacturing sector reportage—drawing comparisons to the maritime industry, where regulators such as NIMASA offer prizes of ₦1 million and above to outstanding reporters.
Looking beyond Nigeria, Hassan advocates repositioning CICAN as a continental hub for manufacturing reportage, aligning with the commencement of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He revealed plans to connect CICAN with manufacturing media associations across West Africa and the broader African continent, mirroring MAN’s leadership role in the Pan-African Manufacturers Association (PAMA).
In a major announcement, Hassan disclosed plans to introduce a nationwide “Made-in-Nigeria Media Day,” aimed at promoting local production and consumption. This initiative, he said, would be executed in collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), MAN, NACCIMA, NECA, SON, and other relevant agencies.
The proposed celebration would feature activities such as wearing locally made fabrics, exhibitions, and nationwide media campaigns supporting the Federal Government’s Made-in-Nigeria agenda.
In his closing remarks, Hassan congratulated the winners of the 2026 MAN Media Personality Awards and reaffirmed CICAN’s commitment to supporting MAN’s advocacy efforts through responsible, development-oriented journalism.
“CICAN will always be there for MAN, just as we rely on MAN for positive engagement with the media,” he stated, while offering prayers for Nigeria’s continued growth and the expansion of the manufacturing sector.