EMBRACING LOCALLY MADE PRODUCTS? A STEP TOWARDS ERADICATING UNEMPLOYMENT

The fact that Nigerian’s unemployment rate is on the high side no longer raises too many brows in the News. It has steadily been on the rise and recently stands at 23.1% with over 20 Million Nigerians unemployed.

Without dwelling much on criticizing the Government, since they are the actual ‘persons’ directly responsible for creating adequate jobs for her youth, more emphasis shall be on the effects and contributions of the unconscious actions of the populace to the menace.

To start with, it is funny how youths bemoan their state of being unemployed when it is widely believed that, heaven helps those who helps themselves. Why would anyone rather be in prayer sessions every Monday instead of going job hunting, or to gear up his/her employable skills? Some others spend their entire days surfing the Net for unproductive contents, or await Celebrity give-away on Instagram.

Unemployment is actually a major ill affecting the Country and her Economy, and it came about as a result of reasons ranging from youths being clearly unemployable, bad and unfavorable Government policies, widespread corruption etc. The fact that erratic Power supply leads to decrease in Industrialization cannot be over emphasized too. A lot of Companies have gone into extinction when the cost of powering their equipment equates the profit realized. One major effect of unemployment being insecurity, so also is the occurrence of Child and forced Labor. There is usually stampedes at Federal Government jobs, a situation whereby thousands of candidates jostles for a fewer positions.

Meanwhile, has it ever occurred to anyone that the fact that Nigerians are in the habit of not purchasing locally made products, is a major setback for local businesses, hence adding up to the figure of inadequate jobs, and then onward increased unemployment rate? There appears to be a likeness for foreign made products over the local ones that are generally assumed to be inferior.

To start with, many Nigerians travel for vacations outside the Country, meanwhile we have equally reasonable locations which I am glad to introduce thus;

·         The Lekki Conservation Centre- Lagos,

·         Obudu Cattle Ranch/Mountain resort in Cross River,

·         La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, Lagos,

·         Zenababs Half Moon Resort - Osun,

·          Abraka Turf and Country Club- Delta,

·         Suntan Beach and Resorts in Badagry,

·         Yankari Games Reserve in Bauchi,

·         Casa Ilashe Private Beach- Lagos,

·         Lekki Conservation centre, Lagos,

·         Oguta Lake Motel and Golf Resort in Imo,

·          Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort in Ekiti,

·         Mic-Com Golf Resort- Osun,

·         Hermitage Gardens Resort- Lagos,

·          Le-Meridien Ibom Golf Resort in Akwa Ibom,

·          La Manga Luxury Beach Villas, Ilashe in Lagos,

·         Whisperings Palms in Badagry,

·          Kamp Ikare Beach Resort-Lagos,

·          Atican Beach in Ajah,

·         Rojenny Tourist Village-Anambra,

·          Kajuru Castle in Kaduna,

·          Jhalobia Recreation Park and Garden in Lagos  etc (Hotelguides.ng)

Away from tourism however, I have come to notice that the unemployed especially have a taste for very expensive things, most of which were imported, when they are supposed to patronize local products the most. They claim to have an eye for classy stuffs, but how many Nigerians have the luxury of sending resumes to countries where purchases of these goods came from? Most job hunts are made locally, so posterity says that you should also help to grow the Economy of a Nation, where you hope to earn a living from.

Sometimes last year, Nigerian designers recreated rather beautifully, a cheaper version of the Nigerian jersey to Russia. Adorned majorly by low income earners, most middle class and the wealthy clearly did not buy just because it was locally produced and supposedly too cheap for their status. I agree that most local products could be wacky, but it could be recreated. I used to have issues with the finishing of Aba ready-made gowns, but I did justice to it with the help of my designer who always loosen up the finishing, giving it a befitting detail soon after purchase. And if everyone was like me, patronizing local businesses henceforth, we would encourage perfection overtime. Those who had successfully sprang up companies in this part of the world despite the seeming harsh condition, while also managing it to survival for least a few years, deserves not just accolades, but huge patronage too.

An unemployed youth that does not watch any local station or wear locally made dresses, buys local shoes and bags or other products, does not have any right to complain about not getting a job.

If Nigerian music that was massively embraced these past decades could attract so much international recognition as it is presently, then there’s so much we could achieve in embracing what is ours. I remember when Idris Abdulkareem whose Rap Music Ruggedman tagged crude with no meaningful contents reigned supreme, we did mimed to that incoherence though. And if the recent signing of Tiwa Savage to America’s Universal Record Label is anything to go by, then there’s power in Local acceptance first of all. The acceptance of Nollywood too played out with the Netflix’s purchase of Genevieve Nnaji’s Movie, Lion’s Heart.

Patronizing locals increases their strength and onward profit to employ more work-force. So until we decide to have a re orientation about appreciating our stuffs, China would keep lending to us, while we remain at the mercy of once upon a time developing country, that is now the commercial hub of the world like Dubai.