Nigeria to Roll Out Strategy for New Industrial Policy, Sets Stage for West Africa IMT Summit 2025
Lagos, Nigeria — The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) has announced plans to launch a detailed implementation strategy for Nigeria’s new National Industrial Policy (NIP), a move aimed at driving economic transformation and positioning the country as a regional industrial hub.
The disclosure came from Senator John Owan Enoh, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, during a press conference in Lagos to unveil preparations for the forthcoming West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing & Trade (West Africa IMT) Summit & Exhibition 2025. The high-level event, organized by dmg Nigeria Events, will take place from October 21–23, 2025, at the Landmark Centre, Lagos.
With the theme “Accelerating West Africa’s Sustainable Industrial Revolution for Economic Prosperity,” the summit is expected to bring together industry leaders, policymakers, investors, and innovators from across the region to chart a roadmap for industrial growth.
Senator Enoh described the NIP as Nigeria’s “blueprint for industrial rebirth,” emphasizing its role in shifting the nation’s economic focus from raw material dependency to value-added production.
“Our commitment is simple: from raw materials to value-added products, and from dependency to competitiveness. Nigeria’s industrialisation is not about numbers but about jobs, dignity, and hope for millions of our citizens,” he said.
Enoh added that Nigeria’s industrial transformation is critical not just for the country but for the region at large.
“We are building an economy that manufactures, innovates, and exports. An economy that works not only for Nigeria but also for West Africa and the world,” he noted.
The Minister stressed that the summit would provide a vital platform for advancing Africa’s industrial aspirations and scaling small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Also speaking at the briefing, Wemimo Oyelana, Country Director for dmg Nigeria Events, highlighted the defining role of industrialisation in shaping West Africa’s future.
“We are at a defining moment as a region. The decisions we make now around industrialisation, manufacturing, and technology will shape our growth story for generations. This summit is about building solutions that strengthen industries, drive trade, and create opportunities for our people,” Oyelana said.
The event will also spotlight the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and its potential to expand intra-African trade and industrial linkages.
The Lagos briefing drew the participation of prominent private sector leaders, including Zainab Omonaiye, Chief Commercial Officer at Matta; Michael Onafowokan, Executive Director at Coleman Cables and Wires; and Dr. Timi Austen-Peters, Chairman of Dorman Long Engineering Limited.
With the industrial policy rollout and the IMT Summit on the horizon, Nigeria is positioning itself to lead West Africa’s push for sustainable industrialisation and to unlock new pathways for economic prosperity.
