AES Proffers Solutions for Economic Rejuvenation

By Emmanuel Olorunda-Otaru

The President of the Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies, Nigeria (AES), Dr. Ausbeth Ajagu has lamented the wobbling state of the country despite having the best people and abundant natural resources.

Ajagu gave this admonition at the 11th annual conference of the academy, with the theme: “Optimising Nigeria’s Blue Economy for National Development,” held in Lagos, recently.

According to him, the problems of the country cut across all segments of the society, saying that both the individuals and governments need to have the right mindset to do what is right.

“As individual, change yourself, let us know that we are here on divine assignment and must give account when we leave this world. If our leaders know that leadership is spiritual they won’t embezzle money. I believe we can still get it right,” he added.

The chairman of the occasion, retired Maj. Gen. Obi Abel Umahi, agreed with the AES president that Nigeria needs to find God to overcome her daunting challenges.

“If Nigeria can find God the whole world will find Nigeria. One of the malaise of this nation is our attitudes to developmental opportunities. We resist exposure, things that will expose us to wealth,” he explained.

According to him, “this Nigeria project will succeed, survive and become an outstanding nation in the world”.

On his part, the guest speaker of the occasion, Professor of Oceanography and the Blue Economy, Chidi Ibe, emphasised the inherent opportunities of the Blue Economy.

He said, “the blue economy got attention arising from thinning land resources. The future is about the ocean and the blue economy. The future is now.”

Ibe enjoined Nigerians, “to take advantage of this new dynamic afforded by the global shift to the blue economy,” adding, “the world’s ocean is the last frontier. Ocean covers 75 per cent of the earth.”

“Being at the table early entitles us to a voice in the evolving paradigm. In the ocean are mineral resources, food, fisheries, energy, iron deposits, manganese, red earth.

“Our coastline is the most productive in the world. Nigeria must navigate to where there is a safe operating space, to probe, plan, prosecute and implement,” he said.

He equally urged the government to maximise finance for development to unlock non-public capital and judiciously deploy the scarce resources.

The keynote speaker, Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Bashir Jamoh, who was represented by his Special Assistant Communications and Strategy, Mr. Ubong Essien, highlighted the functions of the agency.

He said the maritime environment by its nature is eternally sustainable.

He said NIMASA’s role is to regulate and promote activities in the maritime sector, like security, safety, and shipping development. We are also investing in partnership with the Navy. Adding, “we must orient our thinking towards the blue economy.

Also, the 11th annual CEOs Dinner/Awards Nite of AES, with the theme: “Peace and Security Imperatives to National Development”, took place in Lagos recently.

In his opening speech, President, Governing Council, AES Excellence Club, Dr. Ausbeth Ajagu, said, “In a modern society, security means development and without development there can be no security, as the two moves pari passu. Insecurity is promoting mutual suspicion and distrust amongst our various tribes and religious groups, disallowing creativity and innovation and local and foreign investment from flourishing in our socio-economic space”.

On her part, the Chairman of the Planning Committee of the event, Mrs. Nkeiru Adesogan, said the theme of the dinner was so germane because it’s coming at a time when the sovereignty of the nation, the lives and property of our citizens are being threatened by terrorists, bandits, herdsmen and all manner of criminal elements.