By Chukwuka Ugokwe
The South East Branch of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has held its Industrial Energy Solutions and Investment Symposium at the Prof. Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka.
The theme of the symposium was “From High Energy Costs to Affordable Power: An Opportunity for Manufacturers.”
In her welcome address, the Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi States Branch, Lady (Dr.) Adaora Ogochukwu Chukwudozie, said the symposium reflected a shared commitment to strengthening Nigerian manufacturing and building a more competitive and sustainable industrial future.
Lady Chukwudozie, who is also the Chairman of Keystone Bank, expressed appreciation to the guests for honouring the association’s invitation.
She appreciated government officials, regulators, financiers, technology providers, project implementation partners and manufacturers for participating in what she described as an important conversation on the future of the manufacturing sector.
According to her, manufacturing remains one of the strongest drivers of economic growth, industrialisation and job creation, but manufacturers across Nigeria are operating in an increasingly difficult business environment, with the high cost of energy remaining the greatest challenge.
“For manufacturers, energy is far more than a production input. It is the foundation of productivity, competitiveness and growth. When energy becomes unreliable or unaffordable, production costs increase, expansion slows, competitiveness declines and investment becomes more difficult. That is why energy has become one of the defining issues for the future of manufacturing in Nigeria,” she said.
She noted that manufacturers are no longer asking whether affordable energy is important but are now seeking practical answers on the most suitable energy solutions, trusted technology providers, financing options, implementation partners and the viability of such projects.
Lady Chukwudozie said MAN recognised that its responsibility could not end with identifying the challenges facing manufacturers.
“Leadership requires us to do more than discuss problems. It requires us to create opportunities for practical solutions, meaningful partnerships and informed decision-making. That is why we are here today.
This symposium is more than a conference. It is a platform for collaboration that brings together government, regulators, financiers, technology providers, engineering experts and manufacturers to explore practical solutions to one of the most pressing challenges confronting our industries.”
She explained that the objective of the symposium was to provide clarity, build confidence, strengthen partnerships and help manufacturers make informed decisions on affordable, reliable and sustainable industrial power.
She disclosed that MAN established the MAN Power Development Company Limited (MPDCL) to coordinate practical energy solutions for manufacturers.
Working with experienced partners, she said, the company has developed an integrated approach that combines technology, financing and implementation support to help manufacturers access more affordable, reliable and efficient energy.
She added that manufacturers would engage directly with experts through a CEO Energy Transformation Clinic after the symposium, where preliminary assessments and implementation pathways would be discussed.
She announced that the event also marked the commencement of the MAN Industrial Energy Adoption Programme, providing a structured pathway from initial assessment to project implementation.
Lady Chukwudozie revealed that Juddy-Bolema Industries Limited had become one of the first companies to participate in the initiative, describing the company’s decision as a demonstration of leadership, courage and confidence.
She urged all stakeholders, including government agencies, regulators, financiers and technology providers, to support the pioneering project, stressing that its success would encourage more manufacturers to embrace the programme, attract further investment and demonstrate that collaboration could deliver practical solutions to Nigeria’s energy challenges.
Speaking further on the Industrial Energy Adoption Programme, Lady Chukwudozie explained that the initiative was designed to reduce the cost of electricity through the MAN Power Development Company Limited, whose sole objective is to provide affordable and reliable power to the manufacturing sector.
She observed that the high cost of energy has become the biggest component of manufacturers’ production costs, particularly in the South East, forcing many factories to operate below 30 per cent of their installed capacity because of dependence on expensive diesel-powered generating plants. She described the initiative as timely, noting that many manufacturing companies are gradually becoming moribund.
She regretted that the South East was excluded from the National Gas Pipeline project, a situation she said has placed manufacturers in the region at a disadvantage and contributed to the accumulation of unsold products in warehouses.
According to her, presentations at the symposium showed that the initiative could reduce energy costs by about 45 per cent after the pilot phase, thereby improving the competitiveness of manufacturers in the region.
She stressed that solving the energy challenge requires collaboration among governments, financiers and the private sector. She commended Norwegian financiers for providing long-term financing of between 15 and 20 years for energy projects, saying such financing would significantly reduce the unit cost of electricity.
Lady Chukwudozie also applauded Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, for partnering with MAN South East to harmonise multiple taxes imposed on manufacturers, expressing optimism that the era of multiple taxation in the state would soon come to an end.
Also speaking, the National President of MAN, Otunba Francis Meshioye, described energy as the greatest challenge confronting manufacturers and commended Governor Soludo for collaborating with manufacturers to address the problem.
He maintained that reducing the cost of energy would lower production costs and improve the competitiveness of locally manufactured goods. He called for greater synergy between government and the private sector in formulating policies that would support manufacturing, stressing that affordable energy remains the key to increased industrial productivity.
In his remarks, the traditional ruler of Umueri and Okebo of Umueri, HRM Igwe Benneth Emeka, emphasised the need for both the state and Federal Governments to provide cost-effective energy to encourage manufacturing, create employment and reduce multidimensional poverty.
The monarch commended Lady Chukwudozie for attracting foreign technical partners to support the energy initiative, adding that he intended to leverage the opportunity by installing solar power systems in his hotels to reduce operating costs.
