The Director-General, National Productivity Centre, Dr Baffa Babba Dan’Agundi, has emphasized the need for the deployment of kaizen in the Nigerian public and private sectors in order to improve their efficiency, effectiveness and productivity.
Dr Dan’Agundi said this in his Welcome Address at the 2nd National Kaizen Conference, themed “Driving Overall Growth in Nigeria through Continuous Improvement: The Kaizen Approach” , on Thursday, February 13, 2025 at the Zuma Hall, Rock View Hotel (Royale), Maitama, Abuja.
The one-day conference, held in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), aimed to facilitate the deployment of kaizen in Nigerian public and private sectors for improved efficiency and productivity.
The conference objectives include introducing the kaizen philosophy, standardizing the African Kaizen Initiative (AKI) in Nigeria, and fostering collaboration among industries, policymakers, and development partners to promote continuous improvement.
The 2nd National Kaizen Conference featured technical sessions, roundtable discussions, and knowledge co-creation sessions with experts and practitioners sharing best practices and kaizen deployment initiatives also brought together stakeholders from various sectors, including government agencies, private organizations, and development partners.
In his address, the Director-General said, “given the high level of competition amongst organizations in the world today, it is instructive, that at firm and sector levels, we focus on improving our managerial and operational practices so that we can be players in the global value chains”.
“It is a fact that there is a desire for overall growth and development in Nigeria, but the earlier we evolve initiatives that can help us identify the productivity gaps in our ecosystem, the better for all of us”.
Speaking on the need for organizations to embrace Kaizen for improved efficiency and performance, the Director-General said:
“Kaizen, which is globally practiced by top tier firms, and has been proven to deliver efficient and effective operational systems, reduction/elimination of wastes, and improved quality, will not only drive growth in our organizations but help them expand by generating additional revenue and profits with the same level of capital, thereby creating additional job opportunities, and development in the country”.
Dr Dan’Agundi expressed his gratitude to JICA for its collaboration and support in organizing the conference, as well as the participation of various organizations and stakeholders, and looks forward to their continued cooperation in deploying kaizen activities in their organizations and sectors.
“I want to thank every participating organization for nominating their members to join us as we build momentum for changing the narrative of productivity and quality in our nation.
“I also want to especially appreciate the Chief Representative of JICA for making it possible for his team to collaborate with us in organizing this event.
My appreciation also extends to the teams from the National Productivity Centre (NPC) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for their efforts in putting together a well-organized conference.
“Beyond this conference, we shall continue to rely on your cooperation to enable us to deploy kaizen activities in your organizations and sectors.”
The JICA Nigeria Office Chief Representative, Mr Susumu Yuzurio, in his address, said:
“Today’s gathering signifies a critical step in our shared mission to foster economic growth, job efficiency and productivity, and sustainable development in Nigeria. The focus on Kaizen, a globally acclaimed philosophy of continuous improvement, aligns perfectly with this mission, ” he added.
“Kaizen, which translates to ‘change for the better,’ is more than a concept; it is a philosophy, a proven methodology that has revolutionized industries worldwide. Originating from Japan, Kaizen emphasizes continuous improvements, employee participation, and process efficiency. It has been instrumental in transforming businesses, enhancing productivity, and fostering a culture of excellence, “he added.
“For Nigeria, a nation with infinite potentials, Kaizen presents an opportunity to enhance competitiveness, streamline operations, and unlock new avenues for growth. By embracing Kaizen principles, Nigerian public offices and private businesses can achieve greater efficiency, reduce waste, and improve product quality, thereby ultimately contributing to the nation’s economic prosperity. ”
Expressing JICA’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s development journey, he said:
“Over the years, we have partnered with the government and key stakeholders to implement various initiatives across sectors, including energy, agriculture, health, transportation, education, and industry. Our collaboration on Kaizen reflects JICA’s dedication to fostering Nigeria’s growth and human capacity building.
“Through our technical cooperation projects and training programs, JICA has supported the deployment of Kaizen in many countries across Africa, yielding remarkable results. These experiences have demonstrated the adaptability of Kaizen principles to different cultural, economic, social, and industrial contexts, and we are confident that Nigeria can achieve similar success, ” he further explained.
Amongst the dignitaries present were the Hon. Minister of Labour and Employment(FML&E), who was represented by the Permanent Secretary FML&E, Salihu A. Usman, PhD, the Director-General, National Productivity Centre, Dr. Baffa Babba Dan’Agundi, who was accompanied by his team of Directors, the Chief Representative of JICA, Nigeria Office, Yuzurio Susumu, Coordinator Kaizen NPC, Engr. Adejoh David, Ms. Sakura Ito JICA Nigeria Office, and the representative of the Managing Director/CEO, Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA), Orji Stephen.
Over 90 participants drawn from both the public and private sector organizations organizations attended the conference.
The NPC, a federal government parastatal, is mandated to stimulate productivity consciousness and promote socio-economic growth and development in Nigeria through productivity improvement programmes.
The Centre promotes productivity through various initiatives, including productivity promotion and advocacy, surveys and studies on Productivity; monitoring of productivity trends through Productivity Measurement and Index; specialized and cutting-edge Human Capacity Building Programmes, and implementing quality improvement activities for organizations through the Centre’s Productivity and Quality Improvement Programme (P&QIP) to provide business solutions for firms & enterprises.
