Nigeria’s renewed focus on “Made-in-Nigeria” reflects this wider movement toward turning domestic capacity into regional influence. Rather than seeing trade as something driven only by tariffs and agreements, the new approach treats factories, farms, startups, and service providers as the real engines of integration. By strengthening what is produced at home and linking it to African markets, Nigeria is positioning itself not just as a participant in continental reform but as a connector between local enterprise and Africa’s shared economic future.
To better understand what this shift really means in practice, Global South Pole spoke with Alhassan Adelowo, an economic consultant and research analyst focused on trade and development.
Adelowo explained that "Made-in-Nigeria" is gaining strength because production is increasingly being linked to active trade systems that move goods and services across borders. He highlighted how growing numbers of small and medium businesses are meeting standards, accessing finance, and plugging into regional supply chains. For him, this is what real reform looks like in action: African economies trading with each other confidently, competitively, and at scale.
“It should be something that is going to be self-sufficient, continued, and boost economic activities in Nigeria and Africa. So that Nigeria would be able to identify opportunities, for instance. So, we have the use of what we call overconcentration in some sectors of the economy. We now have emerging sectors, as far as Nigeria is concerned. So, Nigeria should be able to identify the risks and opportunities within its territory. So that is going to give us the sectors of the economy where we can place our priority on,” Adelowo said.
Still, he was careful to stress that progress is strongest when ambition is matched with execution. He noted that Nigeria’s industrial vision is already setting the right direction, but its full impact will depend on how steadily reforms are carried through. Consistency in implementation, policy coordination, and long-term commitment, he implied, are what will turn momentum into lasting results.
To listen to the whole discussion, tune in to the Global South Pole podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
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