Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central/PDP) has called on the Federal Government to replicate the successful diaspora strategies of Ethiopia, Egypt, and India to drive economic growth in Nigeria.
Speaking at the official opening of the UNDP-supported SMEDAN Makerspace and Solarised Garment-Making Centre in Abuja, she highlighted how Ethiopia leveraged diaspora investments to build a thriving textile industry that supplies global brands such as H&M, Levi’s, Wranglers, Calvin Klein, and Gap.
Leveraging Diaspora Influence for Industrial Growth
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan explained that Ethiopia’s success stems from strong diaspora engagement, which has attracted investments and strengthened its manufacturing sector. She noted that all the cotton used by H&M is grown in Ethiopia, and the country has also established numerous leather goods manufacturing companies supplying Italy’s luxury industry.
She urged Nigeria to follow this model by collaborating with SMEDAN, UNDP, and diaspora networks to attract investments, enhance skills, and facilitate technology transfer.
“As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Diaspora, we had a meeting yesterday (Wednesday) and identified harnessing diaspora funding, skills, and technology transfer as a key area of focus,” she said.
She stressed that Nigeria could tap into the potential of its 17 million-strong diaspora community to create a responsive ecosystem that fosters economic growth, just like India, Ghana, Egypt, and Pakistan.
SMEDAN Makerspace: Boosting Nigeria’s SME Sector
The SMEDAN Makerspace project, sponsored by UNDP, aims to boost Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by providing a solar-powered garment-making center with 24-hour electricity.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasized that empowering Nigeria’s 40 million SMEs would significantly impact the country’s economy. She pledged that her office would work to replicate this initiative in all 36 states.
She also advocated for the establishment of garment-making hubs in Kogi and other states to address the challenge of unreliable electricity, which hampers industrial growth.
SMEDAN, UNDP, and Government’s Commitment
In his remarks, Dr. Charles Odii, Director General of SMEDAN, explained that the garment and textile factory would allow tailors from different parts of Abuja to access high-quality equipment and work in an uninterrupted, solar-powered environment.
UNDP Country Representative Elsie Attafuah emphasized that Nigeria’s youth have the potential to drive economic transformation when given the right environment. She revealed plans to expand the project across all 36 states in partnership with SMEDAN.
Dignitaries in Attendance
The event was attended by notable dignitaries, including:
- Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande
- Senator Ede Dafinone
- Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas
- UNDP representatives
The initiative marks a significant step toward industrial growth and SME empowerment in Nigeria, with the hope that a stronger diaspora collaboration can unlock even greater economic potential.
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