Précis
Every week, I share a run-through of events that shaped politics and society, here and elsewhere. Enjoy!
Existential threats are stalling Nigeria’s progress. State governors, business, media and civil rights advocacy leaders join a Lagos-based media organisation to discuss the way forward. A two-time finance minister becomes the first woman and first African to lead the World Trade Organisation. What does this hold for global trade? Lagos pulls policy formulators and private sector leaders together for the 8th Ehingbeti Summit, scoring significant progress in the process.
Here is the serving for the week:
SAVING NIGERIA
I hate to say this. The security index of your Nigeria, my Nigeria is at an “all-time low”. And you don’t need an international development organisation to ‘appreciate’ this. From Kankara to Kagara, Birnin Gwari to Ibadan, insecurity and blame-sharing hasn’t stopped shaking the very foundations of our existence. However, the issues are surmountable with timely interventions of the same form as the robust and inclusive conversation hosted by Radio Now 95.3 FM on Friday. Brilliantly moderated by Pulitzer-winning journalist Dele Olojede, Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Pastor Sam Adeyemi, CEO of Sterling Bank, Abubakar Suleiman, and other notable panellists offered useful insights during the offline-online engagement. Beyond the dissent on the socio-economic and political dynamics halting progress countrywide, the panellists agreed on the need to eschew ethnic profiling and embark on genuine restructuring to rescue the country. Timely.
HISTORY MAKER
Months after surviving ‘blocks’ and grand politicking from the Donald Trump Presidency, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the latest history maker in global trade. The ex-World Bank top chief and two-time Nigerian finance minister has finally secured the approval to lead the 164-member World Trade Organisation as Director-General — after a long and bumpy campaign. She is the first woman and first African to lead the 26-year-old global trade body, taking over from Brazilian Robert Azevêdo who stepped down last August. For the Harvard and MIT-trained development economist, the WTO journey commencing March 1 will put up with seeking new deals for 21st-century realities (post-COVID and e-commerce) and curbing trade tensions — remember US and China. I wish her boldness and courage as she prepares to take on these demands and more. Victory.
EHINGBETI 2021
The eighth edition of the biennial Lagos Economic Summit (Ehingbeti Summit) 2021 concluded successfully on Thursday. It’s been a long time coming for the economic summit, first held in 2000. With new resolutions for security, agriculture, data, tax administration, infrastructure and other sub-sectors on the radar, the city-state cannot afford to sleep on the suggested strategies. Having a reliable implementing mechanism helps: Lagos needs to create more economic opportunities for its estimated 22 million residents. Redefining the economy of Lagos also depends on what the state does with these resolutions. And these are just some of the tips the state government can use to prepare for the next edition. Key.
