MAN Marks 10th Media Award with Call for ‘Nigeria First’ Industrial Agenda
By Azeez Disu
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) celebrated a decade of strategic partnership with the Nigerian media on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, during the 10th edition of the MAN Media Personality of the Year Award and Presidential Media Luncheon. Held at the Adeola Odutola Hall, MAN House in Ikeja, the event served as a platform to reflect on the sector’s resilience and to outline an ambitious industrial agenda for the year ahead.
In his keynote address, the President of MAN, Otunba Francis Meshioye, OFR, noted that the initiative was conceived ten years ago to strengthen collaboration and celebrate impactful journalism. He expressed deep gratitude for the media’s role in amplifying advocacy on industrial policy, energy security, and the patronage of Made-in-Nigeria products.
Reviewing the sector’s performance, Meshioye acknowledged that 2025 was a year of significant “macroeconomic constraints,” including “persistent infrastructural deficits, multiple taxation, onerous regulatory requirements, weak policy coordination, elevated energy costs, and other deep-seated structural bottlenecks”. Despite these pressures, including interest rates that remained at 27.5% and a staggering N676.6 billion spent on alternative energy in the first half of 2025, the sector showed resilience. Capacity utilisation rose to 61.3%, and the sector’s contribution to GDP averaged 8.36% in the third quarter of 2025.
Meshioye stated, “Manufacturers entered the year with cautious optimism and a renewed commitment to proactive advocacy on issues affecting members’ operations and competitiveness”. He further emphasised the importance of the sector to the nation’s future, declaring, “When manufacturing wins, Nigeria wins”.
Looking toward 2026, MAN projects the manufacturing sector to grow by 3.1%, potentially contributing over 10% to Nigeria’s GDP. To achieve this, Meshioye outlined clear priorities, including securing affordable energy, expanding access to low-cost finance, and restraining excessive taxation.
The Director General of MAN, Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir, used the occasion to announce the rebranding of the event as the “MAN Media Conference and Award for Excellence in Journalism” to reflect its evolving strategic importance. He challenged media practitioners to move beyond “superficial reporting” and embrace “rigorous analysis” and “investigative journalism”.
Ajayi-Kadir also made a strong plea for economic patriotism, stating, “The Nigeria First should not be a slogan; it should be an actionable outcome. When we say buy Made-in-Nigeria, we truly mean that Nigerians and the leadership should prioritise Nigerian-made products”. He added that, “In today’s reality, looking inwards has become a national imperative”.
Responding on behalf of the media, the National Chairman of the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN), Comrade Taiwo Hassan, applauded MAN for sustaining the awards for a decade. Hassan, a five-time recipient of the award, suggested that MAN should consider commercialising the awards to increase prize money, thereby boosting competitiveness and the quality of reporting. Reaffirming the media’s support, he said, “CICAN will always be there for MAN, just as we rely on MAN for positive engagement with the media”.
The event concluded with the recognition of journalists who have demonstrated dedication and a deep understanding of Nigeria’s industrial landscape. Attendees included prominent MAN officials such as the Vice President of the Lagos Zone, Prince Felix Oba-Okojie, and the Chairman of the Corporate Affairs and Strategic Planning Committee, Mrs Kofo Akinkugbe, OON.