The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Mariam Katagum, has said that the Steering and Programme Coordinating Committees of the Nigeria-United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Country Programme (CP) 2018 – 2022, will move fast in ensuring timely and effective implementation of the programme.
A statement issued by the ministry’s Assistant Director, Information, Mrs. Oluwakemi Ogunmakinwa, quoted the minister, who is the chairperson of Steering and Program Coordinating Committees of the programme, as giving the assurance during the inauguration of the Committees on Monday in Abuja.
Amb. Katagum promised: “We, as a Committee, will move fast, to ensure timely implementation of the programs and projects, as enshrined in the Country Programme. Let me at this point congratulate other members of the Steering and Program Coordinating Committees and assure them of my leadership and cooperation, in the effective implementation of the Nigeria UNIDO Country Programme 2018 – 2022”.
The minister urged the Committee members to remain fully committed to the programme’s assignments in order to enable Nigeria derive maximum benefits from its implementation, especially in areas where there are competitive and comparative advantages, in line with the diversification agenda of the Federal Government.
While noting although much time had been lost before the flagging off of the country programme, the minister expressed confidence that the desired results would still be achieved within the available timeline for the implementation.
According to her, “the ministry’s expectations on the implementation of the Country Program are are enormous and understandable, especially in terms of technical cooperation, as well as enhancing industrial competitiveness, market access, innovation and investment promotion.
In view of the foregoing, the minister urged the UNIDO to design an Action Plan for each of the thematic groupings, with respective assigned responsibilities.
While thanking the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, for his confidence in the committee’s members, she promised that the members would bring their wealth of experience and technical expertise to bear on the national assignment given them on the programme.
