THUR JUNE 19 2025-theGBJournal| Building on insights gathered during previous tours in Lagos and day one in Kano, the Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi-Kadir, visited several factories engaged in different stages of plastic production and the recycling value chain during the second day of its working visit to Kano.
Speaking after touring several factories in Kano, the DG shared frank reflections on the importance of the visit and the strategic purpose behind it.
”We always aim to influence government policy based on facts. Anything not in the interest of Nigeria cannot be in the interest of MAN,” he stated.
He commended the innovation of companies like the Lee Group, which exemplifies the potential of waste-to-wealth initiatives within industrial ecosystems.
He described the experience as a textbook example of a circular economy, where waste becomes a powerful input for generating sustainable livelihoods.
According to DG Ajayi-Kadir, ”As an Association, we do not advocate for business at the expense of the people. We stand for business for the people, because we are on the same side,” the DG affirmed. “We believe government policies must serve the public good, and we hold the government accountable to that standard.”
DG Ajayi-Kadir further noted: ”The ban on plastics does not support job creation, investment attraction, or economic welfare. Rather than a ban, the government should incentivise innovation in recycling and reuse.”
The DG emphasised the need for a mindset shift in policy framing, proposing that the “Waste Management Agencies” be rebranded as “Waste-to-Wealth Management Authority” to reflect the potential value embedded in industrial waste.
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