The biannual Lagos Economic Summit (LES) creates an avenue for organisations, businesses, regulatory bodies and government to generate and exchange ideas that will ensure sustainable economic growth while proffering solutions to possible problems that can arise within the economy with the aim of attracting potential investors into the state

The three-day summit themed ‘‘Powering the Lagos Economy: Real Opportunities, Endless Possibilities” will take place between April 8 and 10, 2014

According to a statement released by the organisers of the summit, the keynote speaker will be the former president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili. The opening address will however be delivered by the Governor of Lagos State and host of the economic summit, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) while Pedro Pires will speak at a dinner event organised as a side attraction of the summit.

Other speakers and panelists include Barth Nnaji, former Minister of Power, Dr Sam Amadi, Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC); Mr Eyo Ekpo, Commissioner, Marketing Competition and Rates, NERC; Dr David Ige, Group Executive Director (Gas and Power), Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); Professor Olumide Olusanya, Dean, Faculty of Environmental Science, University of Lagos and Mr Taofiq Tijani,.Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources

Attending are Aliko Dangote, and two former Presidents, Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia and Pedro Pires of Cape Verde, Mr Chima Ibeneche, Chairman, Falcon Petroleum Ltd.; Mr Charles Momoh, Chairman, West Power & Gas; Mr Scott Desmarais, Principal Partner, Mckinsey Nigeria; Mr Anil Kumar Sarda, Managing Director, Tata Power Company Limited; Mr Fisoye Delano, Senior Vice President, Gas and Power, CAMAC; Mr Solomon Adegbie-Quaynor, Country Manager, International Finance Corporation (IFC), and many others

“We are delighted at the number of confirmations that we have received so far from our outlined speakers and panelists. And, we are very encouraged that their participation and quality of deliberations and decisions that will take place during the 7th Lagos Economic Summit will make it a worthwhile event,’’ Lagos’ Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Ben Akabueze who also doubles asthe Co-Chairman, Lagos Economic Summit Group said, expressing delight at the calibre of delegates and personalities attending the summit. According to him, this will advance the quality of discussions and debates at the summit and most importantly, the investment decisions that would be taken.

He also stressed that the goal of the summit this year is to focus on areas such as power, transportation, agriculture, service delivery, provision of food and affordable housing and the various emerging business opportunities arising within the state

With a population of about 21 million residents, Lagos, Nigeria’s economic capital, is a melting pot of the country’s diverse enthicities and one of the fastest growing cities in sub-Saharan Africa. It is therefore imperative that adequate economic planning and development be integrated in its governance system while fostering the participation and opinions of shareholders, in other to check the challenges of rising population, housing, social infrastructure and unemployment amongst others.

 

2014-03-25