Nigeria’s economic potential would be the focus of the global economic forum in New York on Thursday, September 22, as the country hosts an international business summit to attract foreign investment.
The event, according to Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, is being organised by the Nigerian government, in collaboration with the Africa Business Roundtable
Shehu in a statement in Abuja on Sunday said this is the second edition of the Nigeria International Economic Partnership Forum (NIEPF), a global economic investment platform, this time in New York, United States.
This high-level event is scheduled for Thursday, on the sidelines of the 77th United Nations General Assembly taking place in the American city.
The event will attempt to seek global support for Nigeria’s fledgling economy, as inflation figures to continue rise, hitting 20 percent, amid a weakening naira compared to other global currencies.
The summit will zero in on the potential in the non-oil sector, especially in agriculture and other basic raw materials needed by factories in Europe and America.
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The event to hold alongside the annual global gathering is expected to draw the presence of world leaders in politics, economy, media as well as civil society organisations, and international media to focus on the vast economic potential of Nigeria.
President Muhammadu Buhari will deliver the keynote address at the event and will also host a high-level presidential session with fellow presidents and heads of delegations on issues that need joint action for African countries on development drive, such as the post-COVID-19 recovery and financing priorities; Africa’s investment climate and market as well as de-risking the continent.
The NIEPF will bring together top Nigerian government functionaries as well as renowned and respected global public and private sector players rubbing minds on Nigeria’s economic outlook, focusing on Nigeria in The Global Economy; and International Partnership for Nigeria on The Development Drive.
In view of the wide spectrum of personalities attending the forum, there will be cluster thematic sessions on (i) Growing Nigeria’s agriculture for food security & access to the export market with a special focus on the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war which presents opportunities for G7/G20-Nigeria partnerships in agriculture; (ii) scaling up international resources for financing education in Africa with emphasis on making facilities to link government, deal sponsors and international pools of capital in education; and (iii) Nigeria’s oil and gas sector: reforms, results and the road focusing on scaling up investment into the gas market—plants, parks, and cylinders,
Speakers and panelists at the event include Aliko Dangote, president of Dangote Group; Bill Gates, co-founder of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Satya Nadella, chairman, Business Council of the United States and chief executive officer, Microsoft Corp, Antony Blinken, secretary of state of the United States, Florie Liser, among others.
