The National Economic Summit Group (NESG), the organizer of the Nigerian Economic Summit (NES), yesterday presented the report of the 21st NES to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Chairman of NESG, Mr Kyari Bukar, presented the 100-page report to Buhari at the closing of the summit in Abuja. The report was received by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal on behalf of President Buhari.
Lawal, who spoke on sustainable solutions for peace and threats to human security, said that economy and security were inseparable. He said that Federal Government was doing its best to address the security challenges in the North-East and to create employment for the youth in the zone. He, however, urged all sectors of the economy to be involved in re-building the zone.
The secretary recalled that those in the zone had lost all their means of livelihood. “I am from the zone and I have to tell you that my people did not harvest any food last year as a result of insurgency. “Insurgency has also affected education and youth development. Our youth have been deprived of education for almost six years. “ Also, I will like to let you know that before the problem of insurgency, 90 per cent of youth in the zone were not employed,’’ he said.
Dr Tayo Aduloju of Institute of Workforce Development said, at the plenary on security matters, that the impact of environmental problems had become driver of conflicts and insecurity. Aduloju said that the impacts of climate and business practices such as oil exploration and offshore deep-water trawling had increasingly become drivers of conflict and they posed real threats to human security. “These practices cause human displacements, high inequality, imbalance in social benefits, fragility, resentment and latent or actual conflict, resulting in significant decrease in economic productivity. “It, therefore, goes without saying that there is an urgent need for concerted solutions to threat of human security in Nigeria,’’ he said.
Some experts who spoke at the session called for huge investment in youth development through vocational and formal skill. They also recommended long term investment for women and youth to enhance inclusive growth and sustainable development.
