By Brown Chimezie
Manufacturer, and managing director of M. P. Masterpiece, Mr Emeka Ike, is seeking policies that would encourage local production and create employment.
Ike, who manufactures wines and spirits beverage, decried the rate of unemployment in Nigeria especially among the youths and proffered local production to promote national economic growth and development.
The producer of the local brand, Kubanah Whisky, said he ventured into the production due to the need for quality and international standard whiskey in the Nigerian spirit market.
The Kubanah Whiskey brand has over the years captured the interest of Nigerian consumers and its demand continues to grow daily.
“The Whisky was introduced to fill that need for a locally produced brand that is affordable and of international standard,” Ike said.
Lamenting the rate of unemployment, he posited that the only way to reduce its high rate and promote national, social and economic growth and development is to encourage local production across sectors.
He added that creating jobs will further reduce corruption and crime rate in the country.
“There are so many Nigerian graduates today looking for employment but the challenge is that we don’t have enough industries to offer them jobs”.
The manufacturer reiterated that until the operational environment becomes friendly for production, more producers will leave the country, thereby causing more unemployment. “When this happens, Nigeria will not attain desired development as the giant of Africa.
“Government should take it as a priority to encourage and promote local industries and also pave way for foreign investment. If we do this, jobs will be created; kidnapping, banditry, obtaining by tricks known as yahoo, yahoo and all sorts of crime will reduce, then the economy will bounce back.”
He emphasized the importance of empowering and utilising local resources for national development, saying across the world, government’s support plays a vital role in driving industrial and economic growth.
On the standard of the product, Ike said, “We are happy that our brand, Kubanah Whisky is doing well and competing well with imported whisky in the Nigerian wine and spirit market”.
The brand had earlier signed Destiny Etiko, Femi Adebayo, Nosa Rex and Emmanuel Abisi, a.k.a Nastyblaq as brand ambassadors during the unveiling of Kubanah whisky a year ago, personalities whom the MD said reflects the Kubanah Whisky standard.
On policies and ease of doing business, the MD said the Nigerian government needs to design policies that encourage local producers to continue production in our operational environment.
He said the cost of production in Nigeria today is not encouraging both local and foreign investments. “We need conducive environment to forge ahead or more businesses will go into extinction. The market is on a low pace because of industrial challenges that government needs to address.
“We are in the Nigerian market to quench the appetite of an average Nigerian who consumes our brands, beyond just being a business, we are driven by passion and a burden to make a difference, government should listen to local producers and give them what they need to succeed especially in this distillery sector.
“All over the world, proper and adequate support of industries by government is what brings about economic development. Visionary leaders focus on this to bring about rapid national growth and as well, attain global competitiveness.
Government of any country needs to support and protect production process by providing conducive environment that guarantees optimal operation for industries. Things like steady power supply, Security and a well structured transport system are essential to business owners. All these are the challenges affecting business owners from the level of production to the point of getting the goods to the marketplaces.