NESG list strategic priority areas for economic growth and sustainability

By Oluwakemi Kindness

 

 

The Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) has tasked the President Bola Tinubu’s administration on critical strategic priorities areas to drive Nigeria’s economy growth.

 

The strategic area’s of priority according to the Chairman of the NESG, Olaniyi Yusuf, included Economic diversification, Human capital development, Investment in infrastructure and security, Good governance and transparency and Inclusive growth.

 

Yusuf stated this in Abuja on Wednesday while giving his opening remarks at the National Economic Summit 2024 with the theme Nigeria’s Economic future, 25 years of Democracy and beyond.

 

“The challenges we face are complex and multifaceted, requiring the combined efforts of the public and private sectors, civil society, and international partners, he said.”

 

In charting our economic trajectory, there are several strategic priorities that we must focus on:

 

“Economic Diversification: While we have made strides in diversifying our economy, much work remains to be done. We must continue to reduce our dependence on oil by developing other sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, and technology.”

 

“Human Capital Development: The future of Nigeria’s economy depends on the skills, knowledge and health of our people.”

 

For the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, who declared the dialogue open, he said Nigeria has come a long way in her 25years of Democratic journey.

 

He called for all hands must be on deck to move the country to her next phase of growth and development.

 

“Ladies and gentlemen our destiny is not set, it is ours to choose, the success of the Nigerian project and the progress and prosperity of our nation depends on each ot us knowing and operating in the knowledge that Nigeria belongs to us all.”

 

“We each have a responsibility to build a nation and leave a legacy we can be proud of.”

 

Also the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, who said tough decisions must be taken for Nigeria to get the desired growth results noted that the President Bola Tinubu’s administration has a strategy and it is working to address the challenges.

 

“Lets begin to tell ourselves the truth that we are not as rich as we think, it is not a shame. Countries who have established that truth much earlier than us, made choices that have taken them where we want to be.”

 

“What choices did China take from 1990 to date that we have not taken?”

 

“We have a strategy, the renewed hope agenda and it is working, we are under no illusion that it will involve tough choices”

 

Meanwhile, Panelists at the National Economic Dialogue-2024 identified Politics and Economic growth as siamese twins that must grow side by side.

 

They noted that politics drive economics as policies that run the economy are products of politics.

 

The Panelists across sectors of the economy, stressed that Democracy has not failed us but rather we have failed Democracy because of the way we have interacted with the pillars of Democracy.

 

They identified the pillars to include, a modern state, Rule of law, Democratic accountability and Forbearance.

 

The dialogue which is a prelude to the 30th anniversary of the NESG also had in attendance the Minister of Finance, APC National chairman, Captain of industries, Civil Society Orgnanizations amongst others.