By Chesa Chesa
Concerned about Nigeria’s designation as poverty capital of the world, public policy think-tank, Nextier SPD, has assembled experts to discuss recommendations that can get the ‘African giant’ back on its feet and become a global economic player by 2050.
Speakers at the session billed for next Wednesday, are drawn from abroad and Nigeria’s presidency, and will dissect a report put together by Institute for Security Studies (ISS), a pan-African think tank, which used the International Futures (IF) platform to model Nigeria’s future scenarios.
Also supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, the report titled “Nigeria in 2050: Global Player or Poverty Capital?”, will be tabled at a development webinar to be chaired by Patrick O. Okigbo III, Founding Partner, Nextier.
Speakers will include Dr. Jakkie Cilliers, Head, ISS African Futures & Innovation and Chair of ISS Board of Trustees; Dr. Yeboua Kouassi, Researcher, African Futures & Innovation, ISS Pretoria; and Chris Ngwodo, Director-General, Office of the Strategic Preparedness and Resilience, in the Nigerian Presidency.
The session is expected to explore what must happen, politically and otherwise, for Nigeria to achieve the desired end state, while insights therefrom will contribute to efforts by the Federal Government and its institutions to drive the country’s development.
According to Okigbo, “Nigeria has significant potential to be a major player in the global economy due to its human and natural resource endowments.
“However, this promise remains unfulfilled as the country struggles to shed the moniker of the ‘poverty capital’ of the world.
“Today’s socio-economic and political challenges result from yesterday’s actions and inactions. The report simulates ambitious but realistic policy interventions across different sectors that could propel Nigeria to prosperity.”
He further noted that “tomorrow’s Nigeria depends on the choices Nigerians make today”, even as he enjoined interested stakeholders to join up with webinar next Wednesday at 10am via: Venue: https://bit.ly/Nextier_DevDiscourse_NigeriaIn2050.
The report can also be downloaded from (https://bit.ly/NigeriaIn2050_Report), he stated via a statement made available to The Authority.
