Tukur Blames Failure of MDGs on Exclusion of Private Sector

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

A former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Grand Patron, African Business Roundtable (ABR), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has blamed the inability of the African continent to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on the exclusion of the private sector in the quest to realise the goals.

Tukur, who stated this at the presidential handing over ceremony of the ABR in Abuja to its new Chairman, Mr. Samuel Dossou-Aworet, admonished a paradigm shift in pursuit of the new targets encapsulated in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to him: “There must be a marshal economic plan of some sort, to support the resuscitation of the affected areas that will involve the participation of governments, businesses and development partners/Institutions; providing support, tax holidays and concessions to grow the battered economy of region.

“The inability of the continent to meet up with the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) is not unconnected to the lack of involvement of the private sector in the attempt of realising the goal; hence the call for an amendment in the pursuit of the new target of Sustainable Development Goald (SDG’s).

“The challenges of insecurity premised by economic deprivations, which led to the Arab Dpring that led to change in governments in several African countries from Egypt to Libya, Southern Sudan to Mali and the recent Boko Haram menace in Nigeria, now in Chad and Cameroun are too glaring to ignore.

“ABR should champion an environmental economic sustainable development plan that will create job opportunities and grow the economies of African states through controlling the wildfire of farmers/herdsmen crises by creating a robust economic plan that will see to the participation of businesses and young people in providing a permanent and long- lasting solution to this emerging crises,” Tukur recommended.

On his stewardship at ABR, Tukur recalled that he took over a financially prostrate organisation when he was elected president to lead the organisation.

“ Everyone here knows that without necessary resources deployed to actualise a vision, you will remain at best a good dreamer.
“I committed enormous resources in terms of personal funds, time and goodwill towards rebuilding, restructuring and re-organizing the institution to raise its profile and relevance in the global economic, political and even socio-cultural arena.

“More importantly however, was my commitment to strengthening governance, institutional efficiency and effectiveness through establishment of a functional secretariat, staffed by well trained professionals and supported by a pool of expert consultants which led to the development of a very robust Business Plan to chart the organizational path in delivering its mandate.

“I also invited notable business leaders, firms and development institutions across the globe to join and collaborate with the ABR. We expanded the Board for more gender and regional inclusiveness,” he stated.

The history of ABR like any other institution, he pointed out, is not complete without myriad of challenges, adding that with the experience of Mr. Samuel Dossu, he was optimistic that ABR will continue to provide leadership for Africa’s economic growth.
The new chairman of ABR, Mr. Samuel Dossou-Aworet is the President of Petrolin Group, the Pan Africa Oil and Gas Exploration Company.
Dossou-Aworet, who is a passionate crusader for good corporate governance, an advocate for regional integration through cross border business and investment partnerships, a very successful business personality of high repute and integrity, hails from Gabon