The Industrial Global Union, Africa, says African nations must stop their romantic affair with China and other developed countries through the importation of goods and services if the continent must industrialize.

Rather, it said Africa must copy China’s industrialization drive which has within 20 years moved over 250 million people out of poverty through manufacturing and industrialization. And for Africa to industrialize, he insisted that the continent must make what it consumes and export finished goods, otherwise it will be consumed by the rest of the world.

The Vice President of the Union, Comrade Issa Aremu made the position known at a post press conference on the 2017 African Industrialization Day Policy Dialogue organized by Industrial Global Union, IGU, Nigeria Council in Abuja on Sunday conjunction with Fredrich Ebert Stiftung, FES, as part of activities to mark the 2017 Africa Industrialization Day.

The labour leader, who emphasized the importance of industrialization to Africa said that only industry can provide sustainable jobs and living wages and increased revenues for government to provide the needed infrastructure for development. He said: ‘‘Africa should stop being romantic and clapping for China through uncritical importation of goods and services.”