Babatunji Wusu –
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has stated that Nigeria is not where it should be since it has not met its economic targets.
He did, however, highlight that tremendous progress had been made despite a number of setbacks.
Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke at the Nigerian Economic Summit 30th Anniversary Public Lecture and Founders’ Forum at the Lagos Business School, emphasizing the necessity of reflecting on the past and reinventing the future.
He emphasized the importance of public-private collaboration in serving and benefiting citizens.
Given the current economic and social circumstances, Governor Sanwo-Olu recommended the formation of a strong network of like-minded persons from all sectors to set the groundwork for future prosperity.
He said, “We are not yet where we would like to be, but we are also not where we used to be. We must continue to set goals to inspire ourselves to do better and be better as a nation. We may not always achieve the targets according to the envisioned timelines, but that should never be an excuse for not trying.
“One of the areas that the public sector definitely needs to improve on, especially internally, is synergy; having various actors on the same page, overcoming what I call the silo impulse, to pursue a collective agenda of service and benefit to citizens. I think the NESG can scale up its relevance here.
“I would also like to touch on the linkage between policy work and public consciousness. The more an organisation is able to connect with the general public, the greater its effectiveness. This is why I think that the Nigerian Economic Summit should explore ways of deepening the public-facing side of its work.
“I am pleased to note that you (NESG) have recently launched a podcast that allows for engaging conversations with experts as one of the ways to bring your work to new audiences. I encourage more efforts in this regard, taking advantage of digital technologies, so that more Nigerians can see not just the work that you do but also how that work contributes to improving the quality of their lives and livelihoods.”
Sanwo-Olu, who was a distinguished Guest Speaker at the ceremony celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Nigerian Economic Summit, complimented NESG for its essential contribution to the country’s economic success as a proponent of collaboration in Nigeria.
He praised the Nigerian Economic Summit, which began in 1994 following the annulment of the presidential election on June 12, 1993.
The summit has repeatedly exceeded expectations, establishing itself as one of the most prominent institutions driving significant reforms that are altering the country.
During the ceremony, Dr Pascal Dozie, Chairman of the NESG Advisory Board and pioneering Chairman of the NESG Board of Directors, spoke on behalf of Frank Aigbogun, CEO of Business Day and NESG Board Member. Dr. Dozie underlined that the summit provides a useful platform for conversation and reflection on Nigeria’s economy.
Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, Managing Partner of Compliance Professionals PLC, emphasized the necessity of public-private collaborations. She underlined the importance of establishing a strong foundation of like-minded individuals from various industries.
