The summit jointly organised by the NESG and the National Planning Commission, the 21st Nigerian Economic Summit is coming up at a unique time in the history of Nigeria when regardless of recent GDP rebasing exercise which placed the country as Africa’s foremost economic power (estimated GDP of US$536 billion) in 2014; the current macroeconomic space is characterized by a continuous decline in the international oil prices and foreign exchange crisis with attendant negative impacts on economic stability in the private and public spheres of the nation.
In addition, is the fact that despite being a frontier economy in Africa with significant prospects, we continue to trend downward on measures of relative competitiveness. The World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report 2014 -2015 noted Nigeria’s continued downward trend which fell by seven places to 127th (out of 144 countries), largely on the back of weakened public finances as a result of lower oil exports and prices; weak institutions; corruption, dire security situation; weak infrastructure and high youth unemployment rate.
NES#21 therefore seeks to examine and facilitate stakeholders’ consensus on how best to achieve competitiveness and inclusive growth in a sustainable way, through measurable outcomes and as such it is expected that the Summit conclusions will be crucial in defining the agenda that will help in making Nigeria’s socio-economic environment globally competitive.
His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to lead a Presidential Policy dialogue which will focus on key strategic elements required to make Nigeria globally competitive.
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