By Modupe Gbadeyanka
First Bank of Nigeria Limited and FBN Merchant Bank Limited have entered into a partnership agreement with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group to host the 22nd Nigerian Economic Summit (NES#22) themed ‘Made in Nigeria.’
This, the financial institution explained, is part of its continued commitment to drive financial inclusion and sustainable national economic development.
MD/CEO of First Bank of Nigeria Limited and Subsidiaries, Dr Adesola Adeduntan, explained that, “FirstBank supports initiatives that create opportunities for the advancement of inclusive and sustainable growth of the Nigerian economy.”
Dr Adeduntan said further that, “As a nation builder, FirstBank will continue to lead the discourse on how best to achieve competitiveness and inclusive growth in a sustainable way to stimulate structural and fiscal changes required to strengthen the Nigerian economy.
“These will be achieved through measurable outcomes which are crucial in defining the agenda that will help in making Nigeria’s socio-economic environment globally competitive.”
Mrs Ibukun Awosika, Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria Limited and CEO of Sokoa Chair Centre will be joining a c-suite panel of Ministers and Industry captains to lead the discourse on the “Ease of Doing Business” in Nigeria at the event.
She will also headline a special documentary on leading indigenous entrepreneurs that will be shown for the first time at the opening session of the summit to highlight the possibilities of building globally successful businesses out of Nigeria.
The summit, scheduled to hold at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja from October 10 – 12, 2016, will be declared open by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mr Buhari will also lead a Presidential Policy dialogue which will focus on key strategic elements required to drive global competitiveness and sustenance for made in Nigeria products and services and strengthen Nigeria’s economy via plenary sessions; while the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, will lead the Roundtable Session on job creation, skills acquisition and development at the Summit.
Other high level dignitaries expected at the summit include Mrs Kemi Adeosun, Minister for Finance; Mr Kayode Akinkugbe, MD, FBN Merchant Bank Limited; and Dr Adeduntan among others.
The summit provides a veritable platform to facilitate stakeholders’ discussions/agreements on the practical issues, opportunities that abound, policies and regulations needed to make ‘Made In Nigeria’ a success in the country.
It will also aid the formulation of smart strategies aimed at achieving self-sufficiency and value-addition capacities for several products and services in the shortest possible span and highlight the significant role of public-private sector dialogue in national transformation.
The event is projected to drive consciousness and build national consensus on what is urgently required to rebuild, revamp and reinforce public-private dialogue for a collaborative and an all-inclusive economic growth.
Modupe Gbadeyanka 
Adedapo Adesanya