Nigeria’s Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Owan Enoh, has described indigenous technology company RusselSmith as a “game changer” for domestic manufacturing, signalling growing government support for advanced production technologies that could reshape the country’s industrial supply chain. The minister made the remarks during the inaugural West Africa Industrialization Manufacturing and Trade Summit and Exhibition 2026, held from March 3 to 5, 2026, at the Landmark Events Centre.
The event brought together policymakers, manufacturers, investors, and technology providers from across West Africa to discuss strategies for accelerating regional industrialization. The three-day summit, organised by DMG Events Nigeria and endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, served as a platform for governments and industry leaders to examine how digital technologies, manufacturing innovation, and regional trade integration could unlock industrial growth across the subregion. During a tour of RusselSmith’s manufacturing facility on the sidelines of the summit, Enoh praised the company’s additive manufacturing capabilities and said innovations emerging from the firm could help reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported industrial components. He explained that shortening supply chains and producing critical components locally would be vital to strengthening Nigeria’s manufacturing ecosystem and improving industrial competitiveness. The minister also disclosed that RusselSmith would be invited to present its technology and operational model to the government’s Industrial Revolution Work Group, a policy advisory platform focused on strengthening Nigeria’s industrial base. RusselSmith’s growing visibility at the summit reflects a broader shift in Nigeria’s manufacturing conversation. Policymakers and industry leaders are increasingly emphasising local production capacity as a strategic response to currency volatility, import dependency, and global supply chain disruptions. According to data from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, local sourcing of raw materials in the sector rose to 57.1% in 2024 from 52% a year earlier, driven largely by foreign exchange scarcity and rising import costs. Companies that successfully replaced imported inputs with local alternatives have reported improved margins and stronger financial performance. That trend has intensified the search for domestic industrial solutions that can close supply chain gaps. RusselSmith’s approach centres on additive manufacturing, commonly known as industrial 3D printing. The technology allows companies to produce specialised components on demand rather than waiting months for imported parts. At the WAIMT summit, the company showcased how advanced manufacturing technologies could significantly reduce production delays and logistical bottlenecks. Its technical team presented a framework for strengthening supply chain resilience across West Africa by localising the production of critical industrial parts. The company’s chief executive officer, Kayode Adeleke, argued during the summit that digital transformation alone cannot drive industrial progress unless it is built on a strong manufacturing foundation. He stressed that industrial policy must prioritise manufacturing capacity, regulatory alignment, and patient capital before expecting digital technologies to deliver meaningful productivity gains. RusselSmith executives also demonstrated how additive manufacturing can cut lead times for industrial components from several months to a matter of days. Such improvements could significantly benefit sectors such as oil and gas, power generation, and heavy manufacturing, where equipment downtime can be extremely costly. The company has already completed more than a thousand engineering and technology projects, according to executives who led the facility tour. The firm is currently developing a new advanced manufacturing hub known as the Omnifactory, with the first phase scheduled for commissioning in the first quarter of 2026 and a third phase planned for early 2027. Industry observers say the facility could become one of the most advanced manufacturing sites in the region if fully realised. The Omnifactory initiative aligns with Nigeria’s industrial policy framework, which aims to increase the manufacturing sector’s contribution to gross domestic product to between 20 and 25% by 2030 through import substitution and expanded local value creation. For policymakers, the stakes are high. Manufacturing currently accounts for less than 10% of Nigeria’s GDP, while infrastructure deficits, high energy costs, and policy inconsistencies continue to challenge factory operators. Energy costs alone remain a significant burden for manufacturers, many of whom rely on self-generated power due to unreliable electricity supply. Industry groups estimate that alternative energy expenses run into hundreds of billions of naira annually, eroding profitability and limiting production scale. Against this backdrop, technology-driven manufacturing models such as RusselSmith’s are gaining attention as possible solutions to long-standing industrial bottlenecks. Experts say additive manufacturing can complement traditional factory systems by enabling rapid prototyping, local production of spare parts, and decentralised supply chains. During the summit, industry participants from Nigeria, Benin, and Cameroon also explored how regional integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area could accelerate manufacturing growth by expanding market access and improving cross-border logistics. Discussions focused on reducing regulatory barriers, improving trade infrastructure, and strengthening supply chain collaboration among African manufacturers. For Nigeria, which remains the largest economy in West Africa, the challenge will be translating these policy conversations into large-scale industrial capacity. Government officials say partnerships with technology-driven firms will be central to achieving that objective. Enoh’s endorsement of RusselSmith therefore carries broader significance beyond a single company. It signals an emerging policy direction that places indigenous engineering innovation at the heart of Nigeria’s industrial strategy. If sustained through investment and regulatory support, initiatives such as advanced manufacturing hubs could help Nigeria gradually shift from an import-reliant economy to one that produces a larger share of its industrial inputs domestically. For now, WAIMT 2026 has offered a glimpse of what that transition could look like. The combination of policy backing, technological capability, and regional market integration may yet redefine the trajectory of manufacturing across West Africa.
Stay Informed: Visit our website for Breaking News and Insights.