Made in Nigeria Project Office Advances Towards Full Commission Status, Under The  Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF)

The Made in Nigeria Project Office has recorded significant institutional progress over the years, evolving from a strategic partnership initiative into a nationally recognized special project that is now on the path to becoming a statutory commission.

The journey began in June 2010 with the commencement of the Annual Programme Approval Partnership, which laid the foundation for coordinated efforts to promote locally manufactured products, industrial development, entrepreneurship, and economic self-reliance. This collaboration was subsequently strengthened through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), providing a formal framework for implementing programmes designed to advance Nigeria's production and industrialisation agenda.

 

As the initiative expanded, the Office worked through the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs, to secure wider government recognition and policy support. The proposal was later transmitted to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) through the then Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) for consideration.

A major milestone was achieved on February 1, 2017, when the Federal Executive Council approved the initiative, providing official federal backing for its programmes and reinforcing its role in promoting indigenous production, value addition, and investment across key sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Building on this foundation, the initiative received another significant boost in 2025, when the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) upgraded it to a Special Project Office. This elevation strengthened its institutional framework and expanded its capacity to coordinate national programmes aimed at encouraging the production, patronage, and export of Made-in-Nigeria goods and services.

Today, the Made in Nigeria Project Office is pursuing another landmark objective, the establishment of the organization as a full-fledged national commission through an Act of the National Assembly. The proposed legislation is currently progressing through the legislative process and, if enacted, would provide a permanent legal framework for the institution's operations.

The proposed commission is expected to enhance policy coordination, strengthen partnerships between government and the private sector, promote industrial development, support local manufacturers and entrepreneurs, facilitate investment, and expand market opportunities for Nigerian products both locally and internationally.

Over the years, the Made in Nigeria Project Office has championed numerous initiatives designed to stimulate domestic production and economic diversification. These include national trade fairs and product exhibitions, investment promotion programmes, manufacturing advocacy, entrepreneurship development, youth empowerment initiatives, and strategic partnerships with federal and state governments, private sector organizations, development institutions, and international stakeholders.

Its activities align closely with Nigeria's broader economic diversification agenda, which seeks to reduce dependence on imports, strengthen local manufacturing, create employment opportunities, increase non-oil exports, and build globally competitive Nigerian brands.

The transition from a partnership initiative in 2010 to a proposed statutory commission reflects a steady process of institutional growth and demonstrates the increasing recognition of the importance of promoting local content, industrialisation, and value addition as drivers of sustainable national development.

If the proposed legislation is successfully passed by the National Assembly and receives presidential assent, the Made in Nigeria Project Office will become a fully established commission with an expanded mandate to support Nigeria's industrial transformation, strengthen the competitiveness of indigenous products, and contribute more effectively to the country's long-term economic growth and self-reliance.