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By Josfyn Uba
Dr. Inya Lawal and her foundation, Ascend Studios Foundation, are known for capacity-building and social, educational and economic empowerment of women and youth. In pursuit of these objectives, Ascend Studios Foundation recently hosted the Science of Trade (SOT) Conference in Lagos.
In this interview with Daily Sun, the social entrepreneur gave further insights on the efforts to strengthen trade, economy and productivity in Nigeria.
What is the background of Science of Trade?
Science of Trade is focused on the science behind trade. Everything has a science in terms of how it works. Through our work at the foundation, training a lot of entrepreneurs, we have realised that there is a missing link. We do capacity-building, access to mentors and finance and at the end of the day the market is near, but a lot of people do not know how to get to the market. We see a lot of opportunities slipping by within Nigeria or internationally, especially intra-Africa. Hence, the idea of Science of Trade (SOT) Conference is so that we can start to decongest the complexities of trade because it can be simple. The bogus language used in explaining trade, sometimes makes it difficult to comprehend, especially when people go on websites to download information. What we have done was to bring experts together from different parts of the trade ecosystem and see how they can decongest and simplify everything for us.
What are the challenges of putting this conference together?
As I said earlier, we train a lot of people, but we have a bias for women―and it’s a good bias. We realised that training people is not enough. There needs to be a 360-degree approach to empowerment. True impact doesn’t happen until you get results and you don’t just want to get any results but tangible results and sustainable results, as well.
The challenge for us has been training, giving funding and all the 9 yards, but at the end of the day, especially for people in trade, there isn’t a clear entry into the market. So we decided that if we are putting all our energies into doing this training, we also better put all our energies into giving access to markets, hence the need for science of trade.
Speaking of results, do you think this event reached its target audience?
We have an approach to all our empowerment events or conferences. We work forward and backward. At the same time, we measure the results that we want to have and then start working on them even before the events happen. So as we speak, we have a Science of Trade event in Q4 of 2024 in Washington, D.C. We are in contact with our partners in D.C. to see how they can bring together buyers of certain stores and also select 20 women who will go to the US to present their products to these buyers. Ahead of that, we will make sure that we follow up with everyone who attended this programme and see what certification needs they have and what financial needs they have. We have several partners who are filling those needs. We will work with our partners to see how we can push them so they have everything needed to make this a success. The conference is not the end; rather, it is the beginning of our journey with all the participants.
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With the situation in the country and globally, how will this conference make a difference in affording people the opportunity they need to overcome the economic difficulties?
Following the devaluation of the naira, we have to find local solutions and come up with local products because it’s not so easy to bring in products at the exchange rate. This is one of the reasons the conference was needed so that we understand what the value changes are, the different value changes we have within Nigeria and how we can produce more entirely made-in-Nigeria products. Even if you are doing made-in-Nigeria products in Lagos, for example, but you don’t know what is happening in Kano or Aba or the state next to you, then you won’t know how to get into that market. It was why we brought everyone together, especially people who know where the market is.
One of the problems we have in Nigeria today is that we import a lot of the things we consume. However, if we can start to produce by ourselves and also find local markets—and indeed, there are markets yet to be discovered in 36 states and the FCT—it will open people’s eyes to opportunities.
What are the tools of economic success imparted to entrepreneurs who attended the SOT conference?
They did not take away just tools but a whole toolbox that includes, among others, an understanding of the local market and its opportunities and how to utilize those opportunities; understanding the gaps that exist and how to fill those gaps; and networking to have access to other people, who may have gone ahead of them, to get information. Our network is very good and we will ensure they succeed in what they are doing.
Given how the devaluation of the naira has made imported goods very expensive, how can the government help boost made-in-Nigeria products?
I think having the right policy that supports trade within Nigeria is very important. Policy is something we don’t think of when we think about trade but it’s very important that we dialogue. We have met with some government. People shy away from bringing in the government because they feel government would not hear them out. But we need to dialogue regardless—not just dialogue but show them what we are doing and tell them what the needs are. For some government bodies, it’s the fact that they don’t know what the needs are and not enough has been done to find out what those needs are, but if we continue to convene like this and bring them in and let them directly hear from the people, they would be able to, hopefully, provide for those needs.
What trade deal do you wish Nigeria had done 10 or 15 years ago?
I wish we had taken localization seriously. We would have improved our capacity to produce locally by now. I think we should also speak to ourselves as Nigerians as well. We have acquired a taste for foreign things such that even when we have locally produced products, no matter how good they are, some Nigerians would ask first if such product is imported before they buy. We should start embracing our own. It’s not just about Nigeria taking a step; if the country has taken that policy step, the question is, do people buy local? We must love our local products and support ourselves to grow the economy.
