Obasanjo inaugurates NEPAD business group
From Madu Onuorah, Abuja
PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday inaugurated the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Business Group-Nigeria (NBG-Nigeria), tasking the private sector on its success.
According to Obasanjo, the private sector remains the engine room for the realisation of the goals of the body at the national level.
He told the nation's private sector to think holistically and use the concept of NEPAD as a backdrop when making investments, producing or executing projects, informing them that NEPAD was not out to compete with the African Union (AU).
NEPAD, he said, complements the Federal Government's National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (NEEDS) as the goal of government remains providing the enabling environment for business to blossom.
His words: "The aim for us at the political level is to create a conducive environment for business to also perform on the basis of global African platform. I urge you to think holistically in the context of NEPAD because unless you do that, we will not be able to achieve what we want to achieve.
"We are moving in such a way that sooner than later, we would be able to have free movement of goods.
"Please, talk NEPAD, sleep NEPAD, plan NEPAD, execute NEPAD and reap NEPAD. It is an African programme designed by Africans, owned by Africa, meant to propel Africa forward and you are part and parcel of it in the African business world and particularly in the Nigerian business world".
He asked the NBG-Nigeria, with foremost industrialist, Chief Goodie Ibru as chairman, to show active interest in the recently created African Capital Market Forum (ACMF) which is made up of 22 stock exchanges.
"It is therefore imperative that NBG-Nigeria be seen to be promoting reform in the existing financial and capital markets through capacity development and effective networking," he said.
NEPAD, President Obasanjo insisted, is an African programme designed by Africans "aimed at restoring peace and security, promoting good governance, eradicating poverty and uplifting the standards of the African peoples.
"Whatever we are talking about, particularly in the economic area and may be to some extent in the political arena, the issue of partnership that we emphasise in NEPAD must find expression in how we perform or move on in our countries. And the business aspect is very very important," he added.
According to him, while the umbrella African Business Group led by Bamanga Tukur would focus on continental issues, the national chapters would concentrate on national activities and programmes.
Chairman of the NBG-Nigeria, Chief Goodie Ibru, assured the President that the group would live up to expectation.
He added that peace on the continent depended on putting the economies of Nigeria and other countries right.
The event was attended by many captains of industry, bankers and other outstanding professionals including the Managing Director of Guardian Newspapers Limited, Mr. Emeka Eluem Izeze.
