The Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Joseph Osanipin, has stressed the importance of local content development in Nigeria’s automotive industry, describing it as a strategic imperative for sustainable economic growth and a testament to the nation’s potential.
Osanipin emphasised that local content development is crucial for economic diversification, job creation, value retention, and capital flight reduction.
According to him, local content development encourages technology transfer, skill development, and supply chain resilience, and is the engine that will drive the transformation of the industry. However, he noted that challenges such as access to finance for local manufacturers, consistent power supply, and a robust industrial base for raw material processing need to be addressed.
Osanipin urged stakeholders to renew their commitment to the “Nigeria First” agenda, calling for closer collaboration, investment in local capabilities, championing innovation, and advocating for supportive policies. He believes the automotive industry has the potential to be a major driver of Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic prosperity, creating jobs and securing a brighter future for generations to come.
The NADDC has been working to promote local content development through various initiatives, including incentivising local production, promoting research and development, developing human capital, and ensuring quality standards.
The council aims to create an enabling environment for local content development, working closely with stakeholders like the Nigeria Automobile Manufacturing Association (NAMA) and African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM).