Charles Soludo explains why he will be using locally-made products during his tenure as Governor of Anambra State.

Soludo said the best way to promote locally-made contents is by using such products.

Recall that Soludo turned up for his swearing-in ceremony last week in Innoson IVM G80 mid-size luxury SUV.

His deputy, Dr Ibezim, will use Innoson IVM G5T mid-sized SUV as his official car.

The newly sworn-in Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has further explained the reasons why he will be using locally made products throughout his tenure.

Speaking on Arise TV programme, Soludo said the move will support businesses and create new jobs for millions of unemployed youths both in Anambra State and Nigeria as a whole.

Soludo noted that as the chief marketing officer of the state, he had already began to promote Anambra State-based automaker, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited, by using its vehicles as official cars.

He said: “It is not just me, it is the way the world works. You can’t get to Europe and find any government using Japanese or Chinese products.

“Promoting local content and using such products is how you create wealth, how else? And if you don’t do that, how else do you promote your people’s businesses.

“If you wanna get funds from the US, it is America first. You are going to patronise made in US and that is what it is. You won’t believe this shoe I am wearing right now is made in Ogbunike there and some people will think it is made in Italy.

“The next thing we want to do is to encourage them (the shoemakers) to proudly label their products made in Anambra, Nigeria, and not them imitating other foreign brands’ names like Gucci, Prada, and others.

“Our people have the mentality that unless it is imported, it is of no quality. No. It is when we patronise the local businesses that we begin to appreciate what we have.

“Can you imagine 200 million people patronising products, fabrics, shoes made here? What will happen to jobs? that would create thousands of jobs.

“People have been patronising the fabric (Akwete) k am wearing. Because it is handwoven, and with such others placed by the people, the women making the fabrics have more jobs to do and the price has also inched up. With that development, we will be helping them with technology to mass-produce it and that’s more jobs for the people.

“So, the made-in Anambra agenda is integral to how the world works, we are not doing anything fundamentally different, it is just how it should be. Not only in Anambra, but it is also for Nigeria as a whole and that is how we must go about it.

Recall that Soludo turned up for his swearing-in ceremony last week Thursday in armoured Innoson IVM G80 luxury SUV. His Deputy, Dr Gilbert Onyekachukwu Ibezim, will use Innoson IVM G5T mid-sized SUV as his official car.