L-R: John Rice, Vice President, General Electric; Tony O. Elumelu, Chairman, Heirs Holdings; Vice President of Nigeria, HE Yemi Osinbajo, at the Nigerian Economic Summit, 2017.
Yesterday, I sat on the Opening Panel of the Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) alongside H.E. Yemi Osibanjo, Vice President of Nigeria, and General Electric Chairman, John Rice, to discuss “Opportunities, Productivity and Employment: Actualizing the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan”.
I stressed THREE key messages with the audience:
1) Let us prioritize access to electricity to drive job creation, inclusive growth, and diversification of our economy
2) We must also prioritize our SMEs to create inclusiveness and jobs which we so desperately need in Nigeria
3) Finally, the creative sector in Nigeria has huge investment potential and should be paid attention to.
I suggested that we recapitalise fully leveraged DISCO entities in the sector to allow willing and competent investors to come in.
If we fix power in Nigeria, we will increase our ease of doing business and make life significantly easier for entrepreneurs and every Nigerian
Ultimately, investors are attracted to economies where businesses are doing well.