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Nigeria: Osinbajo inaugurates industrial council

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Osinbajo inaugurates industrial council to Seeks private sector participation for Social Investment Programmes (SIPs).

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday inaugurated the Presidential Industrial Policy and Competitiveness Advisory Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He urged the Council to develop policies to make the economy more competitive.

The industrial council was set up to boost partnership between the government and the private sector, particularly as it relates to industrialisation.
The Federal Executive Council gave the approval for the establishment of the council at its meeting of March 15, 2017, as a formal channel for partnering with the private sector in obtaining their input, buy-in and feedback on the industrialisation programme of Nigeria.

Osinbajo said Nigeria would not industrialise without the collaboration of the public and private sectors.

He said: “The public sector, by itself, cannot do business and simply cannot even deliver on any industrialisation effort. The government does not make the best businessmen and women.”

Members of the council from the private sector include Chairman,

Nigerian Breweries and PZ Cussons, Kola Jamodu; Chairman, BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabi; Chairman, IVM Innoson Group of Companies Limited, Dr. Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma.

Others are GMD, Chi Foods Nigeria, Mr. Rahul Savara; Chairman, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, John Coumantarous; CEO, Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Stella Okoli; Country Head, Olam; Mukul Mathur; President/CEO Beloxxi Industries Limited Obi Ezeude; MD/CEO Fidson Healthcare Plc; FidelisAyebea; Founder, Flutterwave, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji.

Others are President & CEO, GE Business Operations Nigeria, Lazarus Angbazo; CEO, Jumia, Mrs. Juliet Anamah; CEO, SecureID Nigeria Ltd, Mrs. Kofo Akinkugbe; Chairman/C.E.O, AMMASCO International Limited, Ado Mustapha; Chairman, KAM Industries, Kamaldeen Yusuf; Chairman, United Textiles Plc, Adamu Atta; Chairman Candel Corporation; CEO Swift Networks, Charles Anudu; Chairman, Rumbu Sacks Nigeria Limited, Ibrahim Salisu Buhari; Chairman, Tofa Group, IsiakuTofa; MD/CEO Proforce Limited, Ade Ogundeyin; President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Frank Udemba Jacobs.

Other public sector members include : Minister for Budget & National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma; Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh; Minister for Power, Works & Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Minister for Transportation Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of State, Petroleum Resources Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Minister for Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi; Minister for Science & Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu; and Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele.

Technical members of the Council include Economic Adviser to the President, Yemi Dipeolu; Trade Adviser/Chief Negotiator, Chiedu Osakwe; former acting MD, Bank of Industry (BoI), Waheed Olagunju; Exec. Director/CEO, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Olusegun Awolowo; Executive Secretary, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission, Yewande Sadiku; Statistician-General, National Bureau of Statistics, Yemi Kale; CEO, Economic Associates, Ayo Teriba.

The Acting President sought private sector participation to ensure successful implementation of the Social Investment Programmes (SIPs) of the government.

Prof Osinbajo also harped on the importance of agriculture and the need to enhance local production towards self reliance.

According to him, the cultivation of local rice was expensive because of the country’s milling capacity.

He said: “Our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan really does assume a lot of private sector participation. And that participation we expect to be real and this is the sort of thing we are talking about.

“I don’t mean just the CSR type of involvement but involvement even in the thinking through of how these could be done. We are thinking of doing real a game-changing activity.

“For example in agriculture, we recognise now that we have got to be able to produce enough rice for our people between now and possibly the end of 2018,” he said.

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