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The President of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Olaniyi Yusuf, says this year’s 31st Nigerian Economic Summit will focus on driving reforms that deliver tangible results across all levels of society and position Nigeria as a competitive investment destination.
Speaking with Newscentral ahead of the three-day event scheduled to begin on Monday in Abuja, Yusuf described the summit as a platform for “honest and frank dialogue” among government, private sector, academia, and development partners.
“The theme of this year’s summit focuses on the reforms imperative — how we can build, how we can ensure that we get results,” Yusuf said. “Those results should affect each and every strata of society.”
According to him, discussions will revolve around five key pillars: industrialisation, infrastructure, investment, inclusion, and institutions.
He explained that Nigeria must move from merely exporting raw materials to adding value through industrialisation, supported by critical infrastructure such as electricity, roads, ports, and digital networks.
“We need investment — both domestic and foreign — to power our infrastructure,” he said, citing the Dangote Group’s investment in Lekki as an example of what the country needs to replicate across other regions.
He stressed that Nigeria must create an environment that attracts and retains investors by rewarding them rather than discouraging them, emphasising that inclusion remains central to the summit’s agenda.
“Our policies must be pro-women, pro-youth, pro-poor, and pro-rural areas,” he said. “Stability is not the destination. Our destination is prosperity — and how that prosperity can trickle down to all sectors is the challenge before us.”
Addressing concerns about past summit resolutions that failed to yield tangible outcomes, Yusuf said this year’s meeting is designed to ensure greater accountability and policy integration.
He explained that between summits, the NESG collaborates with ministries and technical working groups to monitor progress on agreed-upon reforms and initiatives.
As Nigeria faces rising inflation, currency pressures, and lingering investor concerns, Yusuf expressed optimism that the 31st Economic Summit would set a new tone for collaboration and reform-driven growth.
The 31st Nigerian Economic Summit will take place from October 6 to 8 in Abuja, bringing together policymakers, business leaders, and thought leaders to chart a new course for sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
