The Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, officially declared open the 2nd NPC-JICA Annual Kaizen Conference on Thursday, February 13, 2025. Themed “Driving Overall Growth in Nigeria Through Continuous Improvement: The Kaizen Way”, the conference was held at Zuma Hall, Rockview (Royale) Hotel, Abuja.
In his special remarks, Dr. Dingyadi lauded the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for partnering with the National Productivity Centre (NPC) to make the conference a reality. He emphasized the importance of Kaizen a Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement in addressing Nigeria’s economic and productivity challenges.
The Minister highlighted that Nigeria is at a critical juncture, facing issues such as low productivity, over-reliance on crude oil, poor infrastructure, high unemployment, and socio-economic challenges like terrorism and banditry. He cited the country’s low ranking in the latest World Competitiveness Report, placing 64th out of 67 countries.
Dr. Dingyadi stressed that the theme of the conference aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 8-Point Agenda, aimed at boosting national output, diversifying the economy, enhancing manufacturing capacity, and creating jobs for young Nigerians.
To address these challenges, he outlined key government interventions, including:
₦800 billion investment in power infrastructure to stabilize electricity supply for MSMEs.
₦650 billion loan facility for youth-owned businesses, manufacturers, and MSMEs.
A Manufacturing Stabilization Fund to support 250 companies with affordable long-term financing.
Grow Nigeria Development Fund, a single-digit interest loan program for MSMEs.
Expansion of the Bank of Industry’s Rural Development Programme to create over 11,000 new rural MSMEs across Nigeria.
The Minister underscored the role of Kaizen in improving productivity, reducing production costs, enhancing product quality, and strengthening Nigeria’s global competitiveness. He urged more companies to adopt Kaizen, particularly as Nigeria seek to leverage opportunities under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“I hope this conference will serve as a wake-up call for organizations to address inefficiencies and embrace the Kaizen philosophy,” he stated. He also expressed gratitude to Japan for introducing and sharing the Kaizen philosophy globally.
The conference was attended by key stakeholders, including:Dr. Salihu A. Usman, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment (representing the Minister).Dr. Baffa Babba Dan’Agundi, Director-General, National Productivity Centre (NPC).Yuzurio Susumu, Chief Representative, JICA Nigeria Office,Engr. Adejoh David, Coordinator, Kaizen NPC,Ms. Sakura Ito, JICA Nigeria Office,Orji Stephen, representing the Managing Director/CEO, Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA).
Over 90 participants from both public and private sector organizations attended the conference, underscoring the growing interest in Kaizen as a tool for economic transformation in Nigeria.
With Nigeria striving to improve its productivity and industrialization, the 2nd NPC-JICA Annual Kaizen Conference provided a crucial platform for discussions on continuous improvement strategies. Stakeholders agreed that the adoption of Kaizen principles will be instrumental in driving sustainable economic growth and positioning Nigerian businesses for global competitiveness.
