(JPC) for the 26th Nigerian Economic Summit (NES#26) scheduled to hold
in October 2020.
The Summit, which is an annual event, jointly organized by the Federal
Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and the Nigerian
Economic Summit Group (NESG), is a public-private sector platform for
dialogue among stakeholders in the Nigerian economy.
Addressing participants at the virtual inauguration, on Friday in Abuja,
the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem
Ikanade Agba, said that the key mandate of the JPC was to undertake all
preparatory arrangements for the successful hosting of the upcoming
Summit.
He said the Summit would hold in line with terms of reference, including
review of the report of the 25th Economic Summit; make all arrangements
for the successful hosting of the 26th Nigerian Economic Summit (NES#26)
including the programme of events and timelines for the implementation
of the key activities of the summit; prepare Green- book, which is the
Main Report for the NES#26, within two months of completion of the
Summit and mobilize relevant public and private sector stakeholders for
the Summit, especially at the Federal, State and Local Government
Levels, as well as the private sector and other key stakeholders, among
others.
Agba said that the NES#26 with the theme: “Building Partnerships for
Resilience” was apt as the Summit would provide a veritable platform
for the Public and Private Sector stakeholders to reflect on the state
of the Nigerian economy, rethink the country’s economic fundamentals and
deliberate on the impact of the global pandemic.
He added that the Summit would also explore emerging trends so that
Nigeria could capitalize on new opportunities and chart a path to
sustainable growth.
The Minister stated that the JPC would work under the joint coordination
of the private sector, represented by the NESG and the public sector,
represented by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National
Planning.
Speaking on behalf of NESG, the Chairman, Board of Economic Summit
Group, Mr Asue Ighodalo, observed that the JPC needed to be innovative
and creative, noting that Nigerian economic development was at a turning
point and, as such, a volatile economic output would alter the economic
growth plan of the country.
Ighodalo maintained “we need an approach that is reflective,
restructuring and rebuilding for our economy. In addition, we need a big
conversation to action so as to reflect on the economy, reflect on the
pandemic, review the trend and chart a path for a better, inclusive
Nigerian economy and sustainable development.”
“We must take and implement the right decision,” Ighodalo emphasized.
In her opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Budget and National
Planning Ministry, Mrs Olusola Idowu, reiterated that due to the current
state of the economy, it had become imperative that Nigeria adopted a
different approach to achieving rapid economic recovery and build an
economy that was resilient to shocks.
She charged the Committee to work assiduously towards the actualization
of the objective of NES#26 Summit and successful hosting of the Summit.
In order to deepen the success of this year’s Summit, the Director,
Department of Macroeconomic Analysis of Budget and National Planning, Mr
David Adeosun, would lead other public sector officials as Co-Chair
while the Managing Partner/Chief Executive Officer, Agon Continental
Ltd. Mr Nnanna Ayim Ude would lead the private sector partners as
Co-Chair.
The Committee members who were drawn from the public and private sectors
were carefully chosen in recognition of their experience, knowledge and
dedication to the development of the nation.