By Tony Obiechina Abuja

The Minister of Budget and Economic Development, Sen. Atiku Abubakar Bagudu said on Friday that the annual Economic Summits being organised by the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) have helped in shaping many government reform policies.

Addressing a world press conference in Abuja on the forthcoming 30th Nigerian Economic Summit scheduled to hold from October 14 to 16, 2024 in Abuja, the Minister said such policies have underpinned the development aspiration and economic growth strategy of the country over the past twenty-nine years.

The Minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Emeka Vitalis Obi said the Joint Planning Committee (JPC) for the 30th Summit, inaugurated in July this year, will make all necessary arrangements for the successful hosting of the Summit.

According to him, to usher in the NES#30, there have been several pre-summit events among which included the National Economic Dialogue among others, adding that the pre-summit events were held to prepare ground for critical discourse on the economy during the event. The of this year’s Summit is: “Collaborative Action for Growth, Competitiveness and Stability”.

Bagudu said the theme was carefully chosen to discuss priorities for addressing the current economic challenges, stabilizing the economy and reposition Nigeria in the regional and global stage, focusing on product complexity and competitiveness, with a view to the realization of the country’s enormous potentials.

“It will also focus on Nigeria’s leadership role in driving the continent’s transformation through institutions, investment, integration, industry, and innovation. The Summit discussions will be designed around five Sub-Themes, namely; Fostering Inclusive Development; Unleashing Business Dynamism; Building a More Secure Society; Igniting Innovation and Digital Evolution and Promoting Stakeholder Collaboration”, he added.

According to him, the Summit is structured into three key thematic pillars: People, Leadership and Institutions. This will form the foundation for the NES #30 Agenda, ensuring all sessions address critical issues that form the focus of the Summit Theme, stressing that “this is consistent with the 8-Priority Areas of the current Administration, the National Development Plan, 2021-2025 and the Nigeria Agenda 2050”.

The Minister who solicited the support of the media for the success of the Summit said the task of organizing a Summit of this magnitude has never been easy stressing that “This is the more reason why your support and cooperation in ensuring that the Summit gets the much-needed publicity is solicited. You have done it in the past and I have no doubt in my mind that you will do it again. We are not taking your partnership for granted”.

He also appreciated the contributions of the various corporate organizations and government institutions that have provided support and those who have made commitment towards the successful hosting of the Summit.

“They have remained reliable partners. The tireless effort of members of the Joint Planning Committee (JPC) is also worthy of commendation. I urge you not to relent until a successful Summit is delivered, he further added.

In his welcome remarks, the Chairman of NESG, Mr Niyi Yusuf said this year’s Summit is centered on critical sub-themes designed to tackle Nigeria’s most pressing challenges and identify opportunities for growth.

These according to him include building a more secure society fostering inclusive development promoting stakeholder collaboration unleashing business dynamism and igniting innovation and digital evolution.

“These core areas will be examined under the broader framework of three critical pillars: People, Leadership, and Institutions, which will serve as the foundation for all discussions and engagements at the Summit as we develop strategies to address Nigeria’s high inflation, fiscal constraints, exchange rate volatility, and weak external reserves.

“The Summit will also focus on solutions for unemployment, infrastructure deficits, security challenges, and human capital development”

The Chairman who was represented by the Chief Executive Officer, Dr Tayo Aduloju said NESG in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, remains committed to providing the platform for stakeholders across sectors to engage in constructive dialogue.

“We believe that collaborative action will lead to the transformative outcomes Nigeria needs to achieve economic stability, inclusive growth, and sustained competitiveness on the global stage.

“In preparation for this year’s Summit, we have hosted 8 Pre-Summit events from August to September, covering key sectors such as education, healthcare, financial inclusion, MSMEs, Mining and manufacturing. We also held a National Economic Dialogue, focusing on Nigeria’s economic future, economic growth, stability, and human capital development.

” These discussions have set the stage for in-depth analysis and consensus-building at the Summit, and their outcomes will be documented in the report of the 30th Nigerian Economic Summit (called the 2024 Green Book)”, he added