I Contribute to Nigeria’s Economic Development by Patronising Local Products-Ooni

By Fisayo Oyeyinka

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi , Ojaja II, has said that he patronises and embraces made-in-Nigeria goods as part of his contributions to the development and growth of the nation’s economy.

Oba Ogunwusi who said between 65 per cent and 70 per cent of the fabric he wears today are made in Nigeria, further said everything in his palace and conference hall are locally made.

He disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in palace in Ile-Ife, Osun state, on Friday.

According to the frontline monarch, the furniture, other interior decorations within the palace, his crowns, hand and neck beads and chains, shoes, rugs , animal skins and other items are made-in-Nigeria.

Ooni said: “I am proud of them because they are made by people and my patronage is a way of identifying with them, encouraging local productions and job creation.”

The monarch advised Nigerians and their leaders to patronise local products to sustain and revive the dwindling economy.

“The only thing left for us in this country is to start producing things locally and shun importation of foreign products.

He said: “ This will help us grow our economy, boost the nation’s revenue and make us independent of foreign products.”

According to the traditional ruler, Nigerians have the potential to produce better quality products if the necessary facilities, infrastructures, platforms and enabling environment are put in place.

Oba Ogunwusi also advised the Federal Government to diversify from mono-product economy to multi-product economy.

He said that it was unhealthy for the country to depend and survive on one sector of the economy.

“Our government has so much dependent on the oil sector leaving other sectors unutilized.

“ It is high time we took the advantage of the recession to diversify from the oil sector to other viable sectors like Agriculture and Culture, ” he said.

He said that Nigeria has the richest and best natural resources in the world.

Our agricultural products, crude oil, mineral resources, fertile soil and culture are the best globally, he said.

“We are a nation that can feed our nationals comfortably from our agricultural produce and also supply the excess to feed our neighbouring countries and the rest of the world.

“Because of the lost in focus, we have diversified to other sector that is unsustainable.

“ The best is for Nigeria to go back to agriculture and concentrate on encouraging locally produced goods.

“Before the country discovered crude oil, it was surviving on agricultural products such as cocoa, groundnut production as well as palm produce and mining.

“The revenue it realised from the agriculture sector was used to explore the first barrels of crude oil after it was discovered in Oloibiri some decades ago, ” he said.

Oba Ogunwusi stated that the resuscitation of the moribund companies would create employment opportunities for the nation’s citizens, boost Gross Domestic Products (GDP) and increase Internally Generated Revenue for governments.