By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) will hold between October 24 and 25 this year, Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba has announced.
The minister made the announcement while inaugurating the Joint Planning Committee (JPC) for the event, at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
Thia years’ summit tagged “2023 and Beyond: Priorities for Shared Prosperity” is organized by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.
According to Agba, the need to tackle key economics especially in the area of infrastructure is key which is why the National Development Plan (NDP) is focusing on addressing the infrastructure gap in collaboration with the NESG
He said “The ministry just launched the Nigerian Infrastructure Master plan which identifies the strategies to be taken in tackling infrastructure deficit with huge collaborations from the private sector. We have to address these issues not only road or housing infrastructure but also ICT, agriculture and others aspects.
“The economic summit no doubt has served as a forum to articulate our policies and strategies which is why we are fully committed to driving the cause of the summit,”
The minister said the federal government will be committing N15 million for the planning and preparation of this year’s summit, as against N10 million it provided the Planning Committee last year.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of NESG, Mr. Asue Ighodalo said the summit since it’s inception in 1993 has offered workable solutions to economic challenges, adding that “This years own will provide an opportunity for aspiring leaders to present a clear cut agenda that will steer Nigeria from the current economic headwinds it is experiencing,”
Ighodalo reiterated the committment of the group to continue synergizing with the federal government ahead of the 2022 Edition of the Summit.
He noted that as the country prepares for general elections next year, the 28th Economic Summit, “presents a unique opportunity to galvanize stakeholders to articulate the country’s development imperatives that must satisfy the need for inclusive economic growth, security, social justice…”