Leadership (Abuja)
2 October 2008
With only four days left to the opening of the three-day Northern Nigeria Economic and Investment Summit (NEIS2008) in Abuja, the organising group, the Conference of Northern States Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (CONSCCIMA), has revealed that President Umaru Yar'Adua has been confirmed to declare the epic event open.
CONSCCIMA is organising the Summit in an effort to ensure that the country realises its dream of becoming one of the top 20 economies in the world by the year 2020, as well as target the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.
The Summit, according to a statement issued by the Chairman of CONSCCIMA, Alhaji Jani Ibrahim, is expected to take a critical and practical look at the problems militating against the development of Northern Nigeria which habours about 53 per cent of the nation's population and over 60 per cent of the nation's land mass.
Jani, in the statement, observed that "a failure of the North to meet Nigeria's set developmental targets between 2015 and 2020 would definitely impact negatively on Nigeria's general ability to meet her set target".
NEIS2008 is expected to discuss topical issues in agriculture, solid minerals, education, infrastructure, banking and financial services, micro, small and medium enterprises, the environment and good governance.
The statement also hinted that the Summit, which has been scheduled to commence by 9.30am next Monday, October 6, will also have in attendance eminent dignitaries in the persons of the nation's Special Envoy to the United Nations, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, and a former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shaukat Aziz.
While Aziz has been billed to deliver the keynote address at the Summit, the UN under-secretary would be addressing the plenary session with the Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu Mu'azu, and his Kaduna State counterpart, Arc. Namadi Sambo.
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