TheCable

Obafemi Hamzat, deputy governor of Lagos, says the state government will develop new programmes to implement resolutions reached at the Ehingbeti economic summit.

The three-day summit which held virtually and at the Eko Convention Center in Lagos included six plenary and 20 discussion sessions which were facilitated by 146 speakers and panelists.

Some of the speakers and panelists include Muhammadu Sanusi, former emir of Kano; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO); Akinwumi Adesina, president of the Africa Development Bank (AfDB); Babatunde Fashola, minister of works and housing; among others.

Speaking on the resolutions made at the end the summit on Thursday, Hamzat said the state government will work towards implementing them.

The resolutions covered several issues including child nutrition, data gathering, education, health, enhancing sustainability, supporting SMEs, youth empowerment, among others.

The deputy governor said the state government will look into the resolutions made and develop new and existing programmes to implement them.

“The summit recognised that the Lagos state government has started some of these process but they want it enhanced and expended. We as a government will deepen our work in these areas through existing and new programmes,” he said.

In his remarks, Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the Lagos house of assembly, represented by Gbolahan Yishawu, chairman house committee on economy, planning and budget, assured participants that legislative framework will be provided to implement resolutions of the summit.

“I want to assure you on behalf of Mr. Speaker, he has asked me to tell you that the Lagos state house of assembly as a responsible house of assembly will support the executive government to ensure that legislative framework is given to the resolutions that will come out of this summit,” he said.

Below are the eleven resolutions passed by stakeholders for collaborative execution at Ehingbeti.

1. Recognising that dramatic shifts have been brought about by the realities of the 21st Century as well as the roles of technology in all aspects of our lives, it is recommended that Government continues to provide an enabling environment and support of technology hubs. It was also requested that the State continue to provide venture capital to budding businesses and SMEs to boost their start-up capacity as well as sustain them. We as a government, will look to deepen our work in this area through existing and new programs at LSETF, LASRIC, and the Ministries of Wealth Creation, WAPA and Youth and Sports Development and welcome collaborators to work with us.

2. The need to harness the power of the youths and to put policies and programs in place to unleash the potential of our teeming youth population was strongly highlighted. Policies must be robust and treat the youths as assets – and concerted youth-focused capacity building in digital literacy, STEM, the arts, entertainment, sports and other sub-sectors must be created by the Government in partnership with the private sector. We recognise that they are different from us and capable of making their own way in the world – therefore, we must seek to understand them and how to adequately support them.

3. Another overwhelmingly emphasised point was the need to improve the State education system through a thorough overhaul of the curriculum with a view to providing an education that meets 21st Century realities thereby reducing youth unemployment.

4. It is recognised that Lagos State plays a critical role in the industrialisation of Nigeria, and indeed the success of Africa. Hence, the State was mandated to venture audaciously in projecting its brand, and taking advantage of the coming large united African market.

5. Some of the conspicuous infrastructure development, especially increased road networks, housing schemes and optic fibre investments were appreciated and encouraged to be scaled up to cater for its demographic endowment. Stakeholders in Lagos must collectively invest in the infrastructure of the future i.e telecommunication, the green economy and renewable energy.

6. Given the importance of ease of doing business, Government was implored to reinvent its processes and operations to improve transparency and accountability and secure the trust and confidence of stakeholders sustainably. The State also needs to continue promoting accountability through responsible and responsive revenue institutions as well prudent deployment of tax policy that can be accurately determined.

7. The invaluable role of data in economic growth and development was noted and Government was enjoined to upgrade the functions of the Lagos Bureau of Statistics to be an independent, professional Bureau so as to boost data management for development. The capacity of the State to conduct rigorous qualitative and quantitative research must be strengthened.

8. Lagos State Government was commended on its commitment to gender balance in public appointments and advocated continuous improvement on it. The Summit also recommended greater attention to be paid to matters of women and children and emphasised that Government must continue to pay attention to the inclusion of people with disabilities as well as the poor and vulnerable in the society. With the establishment of our State Social Register and Social Protection Policy enacted in 2020, we will work to make the required social investments, alongside our many partners in the private, civil society and development sectors to meet the needs of our people. Above all, we recognise the place of citizens as critical stakeholders and commit to according them their pride of place in our business processes and service delivery.

9. The State Government must continue to build strong law enforcement institutions, develop zero-tolerance for law breaking and indiscipline as well as hold its Public Officers accountable for unethical behaviour. Investment in technology to drive e-government, e-commerce and security must be intensified.

10. The current level of public enlightenment and publicity of Government’s plans, projects and programs needs to be improved. There is a need to ramp up and find new ways of creating public awareness and improving participation in government programs.

11. All parties stressed the importance of and renewed commitment to improved partnerships and collaboration across national, state and other sub-national governments, the Private Sector, Civil Society and the international community.

All parties stressed the importance of and renewed commitment to improved partnerships and collaboration across national, state and other sub-national governments, the Private Sector, Civil Society and the international community, while the state legislative arm, through the Speaker, promised to support execution of the summit resolutions.