Prominent Nigerians from a range of industries demanded a more thorough examination of the country’s past, present, and future in order to make amends and diversify the economy for improved outcomes.
At a public lecture and founder’s forum with the theme “In the National Interest: Reflecting on the Past, Reimagining the Future,” which was co-hosted by the Lagos Business School and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) to launch preparations for this year’s 30th Nigerian Economic Summit (NES#30), they made the call.
During his speech, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said that the event’s theme encourages all Nigerians to take a look back and then look forward, making a connection between the past and the future.
There is no aspect of reflecting on Nigeria that has not been done before, according to Dr. Pascal Dozie, chairman of the NESG advisory board, who was speaking on behalf of Frank Aigbogun, director of the NESG board. He noted that yesterday is gone, along with all of its triumphs and tragedies, and that the current generation can only learn from the past but not relive it.
He emphasised that Nigeria must be reimagined with intelligence, bravery, and sagacity, with an emphasis on political, economic, educational, and environmental aspects.
He said that the unwavering enthusiasm and energy of the #NESG are evident to all, and that these qualities can never be underestimated since they continue to subtly spur reform improvements that facilitate the execution of legislative decisions at all governmental levels.
According to Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, managing partner of Compliance Professionals Plc, the event was more than just a celebration; it was also a reflection on thirty years of revolutionary discourse and economic transformation, which had been made possible by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).
According to her, Nigeria has over the years put itself on a path towards accelerated economic development. Despite the difficulties in keeping track of and carrying out people’s actions, the commitment is unwavering, and the NESG is still pushing for reforms through rigorous research and social and economic programmes that are all intended to influence the socioeconomic development of our country.
Mr. Niyi Yusuf, the NESG’s chairman of the board of directors, underlined the importance of the yearly Nigerian Economic Summit to the organization’s lobbying work. The next summit marks an important turning point in Nigeria’s development and influence.
According to him, the 30th summit offers a chance to raise important issues regarding how Nigeria can diversify her economy and lessen her reliance on oil, promote a business-friendly atmosphere free of typical sloganeering, and build a much-needed infrastructure base in a more well-planned and elegant way without resorting to staccato methods.
He made the audience realise how important it was for them to attend the event by asking them to consider the function of the public-private dialogue platform in Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape.
According to Mr. Yusuf, the 30th Nigerian Economic Summit is evidence of the original goal of the NESG’s continuing applicability in addressing intricate economic realities.
At the Lagos event, the logo for the 30th Nigerian Economic Summit was also unveiled. The organisers claimed that the distinctive NES#30 emblem represents the NESG’s commitment to furthering economic development in Nigeria.
“Three stars above the name in the logo design represent thirty years of influential discourse that has fueled economic changes and progress. The Nigerian map of the world represents the NESG’s conviction that meaningful change starts at home.
The trailing lines, on the other hand, show NESG’s dedication to promoting international alliances and cooperation. Furthermore, the happy commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Nigerian Economic Summit is symbolised by the peach-colored ribbon, according to NESG.