The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said that the ministry will soon embark on “Buy Nigeria Campaign’’ to raise awareness on local contents.
The minister made the disclosure when the management of Omatek Ventures Plc demonstrated its locally made Light-Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs and fluorescent in his office.
The company also demonstrated its locally assembled computers, solar panels and components for generating power into homes and offices.
Mohammed said that the campaign would help to sensitise the public to the benefits of patronising Nigerian products.
The minister underscored the need for Nigerians to develop the habit of conserving power, stressing that “when you reduce power consumption, you create energy.’’
He said most homes and offices had the negative habit of leaving their lighting points to be glowing and even their fans and air conditioning units on when they did not need them.
The minister said that such homes wasted energy and stood the risk of suffering fire outbreaks.
Mohammed said the country might have to legislate and enforce the use of LED lighting products which use less energy and last longer than other types of lighting systems.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Omatek, Mrs Florence Seriki, explained that LED bulbs and fluorescent tubes save energy, were brighter than other products, do not get hot and last for minimum of five years.
According to her, while a conventional bulb consumes 66.9W, an LED bulb with brighter light consumes just 7.3W.
Seriki said the company had a local manufacturing plant for LED products and assembly plants for computers and solar power panel and accessories.
She said the solar power panels and accessories were of different capacity for generating electricity for homes, offices and factories.
Seriki said the company had a consumer scheme, particularly for civil servants and workers in private offices, for seamless payments through their monthly salaries.
Meanwhile, the minister has said that government will encourage the private sector to invest in the creative industry to make it more productive.
He made the statement when he received a delegation from Arewa Creative Industry led by its chairperson, Hajia Halima Idris.
Mohammed said government was particularly interested and passionate about the sector because “it is easily accessible to the poor and the rural populace.’’
He said the ministry was collaborating with Tony Elumelu Foundation to train and mentor talented youths on how to turn their creative talents to business.
The minister said the youth would be given seed money to start businesses.
On her part, Idris said the Arewa Creative Industry was put together to mobilise and empower underprivileged children, youths, women and people with disabilities but talented.
She said the group also helped in discovering talents, skill acquisition and training for the youth.
Source: guardian.ng