All Regions and All Sectors

Interview:Uche Orji What is your assessment of the measures required to diversify Nigeria’s revenue base? URCHE ORJI: Improving government revenue and diversifying sources of foreign exchange requires a three-pronged approach. First, diversification must be predicated on mass industrialisation to foster quality manufacturing standards. This entails providing financial support, an enabling fiscal…

Interview:Kalim Shah Why are public-private partnerships (PPP) key to delivering accessible and quality public services? KALIM SHAH: Infrastructure gaps cost Nigeria about 4% of GDP growth annually, according to a 2021 report from the World Bank. Rapid growth of the population projected to reach nearly 400m people by 2050, coupled with urbanisation has created strong demand for infrastructure…

Interview:Hajja Wakil How attractive is the current economic situation in Nigeria for foreign investors? HAJJA WAKIL: Several competitive advantages underpin Nigeria’s attractiveness as a destination for foreign direct investment (FDI). First, according to the World Bank, Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa, with a GDP of $441bn in 2021 and a population projected to be the third largest…

Interview:Antonio Pedro What policies can be implemented to accelerate the pace of industrialisation across West Africa? ANTONIO PEDRO: Industrial policy must be at the centre of development to accelerate industrialisation. This requires political support, institutional cohesiveness, coordination between public and private actors, reduced business costs, and increased investment in infrastructure…

Interview:Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala How would you assess Nigeria’s progress in trade development and capacity in recent years? NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA: Nigeria has forged closer trade ties with other countries since 2000, particularly with China and India. After the Covid-19 pandemic, trade levels rose substantially. However, Nigeria is still dependent on the export of raw materials and should diversify…

Interview:Omar Alieu Touray How would you evaluate the transition towards a digital economy across ECOWAS member states? OMAN ALIEU TOURAY: The Fourth Industrial Revolution has provided an opportunity for ECOWAS member states to leverage technology to augment employment, productivity, competitiveness and development. Our member states have adopted policies to promote digital entrepreneurship…