2018 Nigerian Economic Summit to focus on good governance – Udoma
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Nigeria’s Government authorities, private sector players, the academia, development partners, among others will gather on Abuja, the country’s capital in October for a two-day deliberation on good governance as a path to sustainable human and economic development.
The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma said arrangements have been finalised for this year’s event – Nigerian Economic Summit (NES# 24) which holds in Abuja on October 22 and 23, and aims towards achieving the goals of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).
The theme of the summit is “Poverty to Prosperity: Making Governance and Institutions to work” Udo Udoma said as he briefed media professionals in Abuja on Tuesday, on preparations so far.
The annual summit provides a forum for dialogue, bringing together government officials, and members of the private sector, investors, the civil society and academia to deliberate on issues constraining economic growth and strategizing on possible solutions to these problems.
Linking further the upcoming summit with the ERGP, Udoma explained that efficient execution of the ERGP is hinged on the delivery of proper governance. Strategies embedded in the plan aimed at accelerating improvement in governance include; promoting transparency and fighting corruption, preforming the public sector, strengthening coordination among all levels of government and reinforcing security.
While talking on some of the steps already set in motion for the improvement of governance, the Minister also noted that a lot is yet to be done. The summit will run on five key areas; corruption and rule of law, effective public institutions, sustainable economic opportunities, human development, participation and citizen’s rights.
The Ibrahim Index for African Governance (IIAG) will be used to identify indicators of good governance as the summit hopes to also highlight the current state of governance, the challenges faced and ways of overcoming said challenges.
Responding to questions from the press, Udoma reiterated government’s confidence in the ERGP which he says had commenced almost two years ago and is still on track to strengthen the economy. “ERGP was launched when we were in a recession with the aim of ushering us out which it did, it has the ability to increase Nigeria’s GDP by as much as 6%, provided we stay on track”
Speaking on the feats achieved and projects in the works of the NESG, Laoye Jaiyeola, the Chief Executive Officer, NESG, revealed that the summit is working with stakeholders in cassava farming to push for backward integration as well as assessing some of the challenges they go through. He also spoke on a project in the works in collaboration with the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to develop skills in the youth and reassessment of school curriculum to encourage entrepreneurship.
“Some of the things discussed in the first summit were not realized until the 9th year, we are still in the process of implementing some of the things we discussed last year. Most of the issues discussed are not achievable within a year, as these things take time” he said.
Conrad Omodiagbe