Odiri Erewa-Meggison, External Affairs Director for British American Tobacco (BAT) West and Central Africa, has issued a clarion call to Nigerian manufacturers, urging them to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to secure long-term growth and global competitiveness.
The remarks came during her keynote address at the 2025 BUSINESSDAY Manufacturing Conference, themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s Manufacturing Potential: Strategies for Sustainable Growth Amidst Economic Turbulence.”
“Africa is your next growth frontier,” Erewa-Meggison declared before an audience of industry leaders. “Businesses that align their models with the AfCFTA framework will be best positioned for future success in our increasingly interconnected continental economy.”
The BAT executive emphasized that regional integration through AfCFTA offers Nigerian manufacturers critical advantages at a time when the sector faces mounting challenges, including rising inflation, foreign exchange scarcity, and infrastructure deficits.
Erewa-Meggison pointed to BAT Nigeria’s own operations as proof of concept, revealing that:
- The company maintains a 55% domestic shipment share
- Operates a $185 million manufacturing hub in Ibadan
- Exports to 11 countries including the United States
- Contributes $110 million annually in foreign exchange earnings
“Between 2018 and 2023, we paid over ₦415 billion in taxes while maintaining a zero lost-time incident record since 2021,” she added, noting the company trains over 600 staff annually in leadership and technical skills.
The BAT director outlined several sustainability milestones:
- All production sites certified zero-waste
- 30% of water used in manufacturing being recycled
- On track for 100% renewable electricity by 2030
- 67% Nigerian representation in senior leadership
- 36% of management roles held by women
Erewa-Meggison concluded with a three-part prescription for Nigerian manufacturers:
- Digital Transformation: Adopt AI and real-time monitoring technologies
- Sustainability: Embed ESG principles across operations
- Regional Integration: Develop AfCFTA-aligned business models
“The manufacturers who will thrive are those building for a future that is digital, inclusive, sustainable, and regionally integrated,” she asserted.
The conference, attended by hundreds of industry stakeholders, served as a platform to address critical challenges facing Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, which contributes approximately 9% to the nation’s GDP according to recent statistics.
Business leaders expressed cautious optimism about the AfCFTA’s potential, with many noting that successful implementation will require coordinated policy support and infrastructure development across the continent.
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