Locally Made Drinks, Palmwine, To Be Served At Anambra State Government Functions – Prof. Charles Soludo

Governor-elect of Anambra state Prof. Charles Soludo who during his electoral campaigns stated his vision of supporting Nigerian/Anambra-made products. Just recently, he reiterated his plans to promote local brands (drinks). He further disclosed that as a policy to promote local brands, he will serve only locally made drinks and palm wine at the government house and government functions.

According to a report, Nigeria spends up to $50million on imported champagne every year. In 2020, it was disclosed that Nigeria’s imports of Beverages, spirits, and vinegar was $317.26 million. Such an exorbitant amount shouldn’t be spent when the country is richly blessed with natural palm wine, coupled with professional palm wine tappers who are rarely patronized.

With Soludo’s plan to ensure that palm wine is served at government functions, with the help of biotech, he can harness the sector and create opportunities for teeming youths. The palm wine business will receive a boost and thousands of millionaires will be made out of this innovative mindset. With better branding and packaging, I strongly believe that palm wine will be a great match for foreign drinks. It has the potential to generate millions of dollars every year if done properly and supported with the necessary marketing efforts.

The palm wine drink, if properly packaged, has the possibility of going beyond local consumption to exportation to other foreign countries. If only we can look inwardly to know that there is an impressive range of African drinks with strong potential to become major global brands. The need to patronize made-in-Nigeria goods can not be overemphasized, as it is one major way to economic growth and development. The economy of any nation grows rapidly when locally made goods are promoted, first by its people, then through export.

Indeed Soludo’s plans and commitment to patronize made in Anambra products will massively improve the economy of the state as well as ultimately improve the input-output matrix of the Anambra agro value chain. Instead of having to import different clothing brands, drinks, shoes, cars, etc wasting billions of naira on things that could be locally produced in the state. This initiative by Prof. Soludo will build and improve what the state already has by increasing the income and revenue of the state rather than spending it elsewhere.

This plan, if properly executed, will give the rise to many entrepreneurs in the state. There will also be an increase in the creation of jobs which will reduce the rate of unemployed people. Indeed “Soludo solution” as fondly called by the people of Anambra state is indeed ready to walk the talk. Professor Soludo continues to exude the exuberance of an intellectual reformist, with his impeccable ideas that are believed to transform Anambra into an industrial hub.

Soludo also stated during his campaign promise to revive the local clothing in Igboland popularly known as Akwete clothing which is produced by Akwete women in Abia state. He further disclosed that the demand for Akwete clothes has gone up in Anambra state because of his decision to always wear the fabric.

It is however disheartening to know that Nigeria as a whole has been growing other countries’ economies through our over-dependence on imported goods, especially those that have local substitutes. The truth is Nigeria can easily experience a breakthrough in the quest for local development and a stable, strong, and advanced economy if Nigerians would patronize made in Nigeria goods.