From Our Correspondent
The Hon. Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, officially opened the 2nd NPC-JICA Annual Kaizen Conference on Thursday, February 13, 2025. The event, held at Zuma Hall, Rockview (Royale) Hotel, Abuja, was themed "Driving Overall Growth in Nigeria Through Continuous Improvement: The Kaizen Way."
In his remarks, Dr. Dingyadi applauded the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the National Productivity Centre (NPC) for their partnership in organizing the conference. He highlighted the nation’s economic challenges—low productivity, high unemployment, and weak infrastructure—while emphasizing the critical need for continuous improvement through Kaizen practices to boost national competitiveness.
He underscored the government’s efforts under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's “8-Point Agenda,” including interventions to revive the MSME sector with initiatives such as:
- $800 million for power substation and distribution upgrades.
- N650 billion in short-term loans for youth-owned businesses and MSMEs.
- The Manufacturing Stabilization Fund, providing lower-cost financing for up to 250 companies.
- The Grow Nigeria Development Fund, offering single-digit interest loans for MSMEs across states.
According to the Minister, Kaizen can significantly enhance productivity, reduce waste, improve product quality, and strengthen the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses, particularly in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He urged more organizations to adopt the Kaizen approach for sustained growth.
Dignitaries present included the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Salihu A. Usman, PhD (representing the Hon. Minister); the Director-General of NPC, Dr. Baffa Babba Dan'Agundi; Chief Representative of JICA Nigeria, Yuzurio Susumu; and other stakeholders from both public and private sectors.
Over 90 participants from various organizations attended the conference, which aimed to promote Kaizen practices and foster continuous improvement for national growth.
