The managing director of Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Company, Onna Local Government Area, Mr Akin Oyediran, has been decorated as the newly elected Cross River/Akwa Ibom branch chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), following the expiration of tenure of office of Engr Giandomenicco Massari.
The group embarked on a facility tour of the company, shortly after their 15th annual general meeting/ public lecture, which took place, Tuesday at Watbridge Hotels and Suites, IBB Way, Uyo.
The MD, who received the guests upon arrival at the factory, took them round on a tour of different departments and said the Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Company, which he said was the brain child of Gov Udom Emmanuel is the largest disposable syringe factory in Africa.
Oyediran, who was assisted on the tour by the quality assurance supervisor of the company, Ms Ruth, an indigene of the state, explained that the company produces mainly three types of syringes, which include 2ml, 5ml and 10ml, which according to him are made with state of the art technology, from high quality medical grade raw materials, adding that each process was usually monitored carefully, to ensure it passes the regourous QC monitoring.
According to them, all personnel of the factory, numbering over 200, are properly trained to understand their different roles, with one expertrait, in order to enhance effective service delivery to the consumers and end users.
The quality assurance supervisor maintained that the company was poised to ensure timely delivery of their products to customers in the best condition, irrespective of the location in the world.
Speaking with newsmen after the facility tour, Oyediran, who was very excited to play host to members of MAN in the region, commended the state governor on his vision of industrializing the state, describing it as very fantastic and said the governor has done well in the area of foreign direct investment, by bringing Akwa Ibom State to the world map, as an industrial zone in the country.
He announced plans for the 5th anniversary celebration of the inauguration of the company, which comes up September 24, 2022, having commenced full operations in September 24, 2017.
The Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Company at Onna, is composed of five main departments, which include moulding, serigraphy, assembly, packing and sterilizing department. Earlier, at the AGM/ Public Lecture, which took place at WatBridge Hotel and Suites, Uyo, the national president of MAN, Engr Mansur Ahmed urged the Federal and States governments to institute a more effective and efficient consultative mechanism with MAN to ensure the sustenance of the existing manufacturing companies and check some which are at the verge of collapse due to outweigh of infrastructural and other challenges.
Ahmed said that the lacklustre performance of the national economy has made it imperative for the association to rethink with country’s development strategy inorder to avoid unpleasant consequences of economic recession and reversal of progress recorded by the association after COVID-19.
The president, who spoke virtually, explained that the manufacturing sector was one of the largest sectors in wealth creation, skills development and technology transfer, hence, it has become necessary for Federal and State governments, together with its agencies work in synergy by accommodating critical stakeholders in fashioning out appropriate strategies to improve and stabilise the economy.
He said there must be constant partnership between the Federal and State governments for total rehabilitation of roads to boost movement of manufacturing activities and encourage economic development.
The MAN president appealed to governments to hearken to the need of business operators for appropriate incentives and infrastructure that would ameliorate business constraints and encourage new investors.
He advocated that “a system check” be carried out on the regulatory contract of certain agencies and organs of governments that negatively impact manufacturing and discourge would-be investors .
Ahmed said that manufacturers would be excited when government at all levels intensify efforts in encouraging investment to manufacturing, facilitating the establishment of industrial parks, granting incentives to manufacturers as well as promoting industrial expansion and employment generation.
He also made a case for governments to harmonise taxes, especially local government and road- related levies to aid compliance by the association’s members, remove the use of inflation, exploitation and harassment by governments’ officials.
While commending the Gov Udom Emmanuel for improved road Infrastructure in the state and tackling insecurity, Ahmed appealed that the governor to focus more on roads that need urgent attention.
The chairman of MAN, Cross River/Akwa Ibom branch, Chief Giandomenica Massari noted that the manufacturing sector in many countries was in a state of transition and requires viable diversification to consolidate on the sector.
He pointed out that manufacturing has a paramount role to harness the nation’s economy by creating jobs, transferring technology and establish capacity building on the workmanship.
Noting that no meaningful development can take place in a chaotic environment, Massari enjoined all Nigerians to join hands what leaders to move the state and country forward.
The Akwa Ibom commissioner for trade and investment, Mr Camillus Umoh, an engineer, applauded the MAN for its contributions to raising Gross Domestic Products, (GDPs), in the country as well as boost the state’s economy.
Represented by the permanent secretary in the ministry, Mr Oliver Udokpo, the commissioner said that made-in-Akwa Ibom products and delicacies were at exhibition during the recently concluded AKISAN meeting in Charlotte, USA.
He said Akwa Ibom people at home and in the Diaspora were very industrious, stressing that, some people from the state contingent to the AKISAN meeting exported various food stuffs including cocoyam, shrimps, plump green vegetables, raffia bags and shoes, which were sold in dollars.
According to him, apart from stimulating the bilateral trade between Akwa Ibom and the United States, the exercise further boosted the economy of the state.
Umoh saluted the industry of Akwa Ibom people, saying that, the ministry of trade and investment would continue to encourage and promote the completion agenda of the governor.
He informed the gathering of numerous industrial revolution dotted across Akwa Ibom, mentioning the flour mill, tissue factory, plastic industry, coconut processing industry, Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Company, among others.
Umoh maintained through the proactive effort of the ministry of trade and investment, the state has attracted the Bank of Industry and provided the financial institution a facility to commence services.
The commissioner congratulated members of the MAN in Akwa Ibom and Cross River for their 15th AGM/ Public lecture, assuring of the government’s continuous cooperation with the body for effective service delivery.
The governor of Cross River, Professor Ben Ayade, who spoke through the state commissioner for commerce, Mrs Rosemary Archibong
pledged continuous synergy with the association for success to be achieved.
Goodwill messages were received from the Comptroller of Customs, Cross River and Akwa Ibom Free trade Zone, AB Abdullahi, Deputy President 2, UYOCIMM, Mr Joe Ukpong, MD jubilee Syringe, Mr Akin Oyediran while the Regional Head, Nigerian Export Import, Mr Soni Oseghale, keynote speaker spoke on the theme of the meeting: “Challenges of FX Sourcing; the Manufacturers’ perspective, Export Windows Available and Thinking Outside the Box.”
Highpoint of the ceremony was the
pesentation of awards on some deserving members including the state chairman, Massari, MD Jubilee Syringe, Oyediran among others.
The MAN was established in 1971 aimed at providing Manufacturers all over Nigeria the means of formulating, making known and influencing general policy in regard to industrial, labour, social, legal, training and technical matters.