Idris Ahmed
6 October 2008
United Nations Under Secretary General Professor Ibrahim Gambari and former Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Shaukat Aziz both arrived in Nigeria yesterday to participate in the first Northern Economic and Investment Summit (NEIS 2008) which kicks off in Abuja this morning.
The summit will focus on crucial economic issues that will move the nation forward in the next few years, a statement from the Chairman of the Conference of Northern States Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (CONSCCIMA) Alhaji Jani Ibrahim said.
President Umaru Yar'Adua is billed to declare the three-day event open. It is expected to attract a cream of dignitaries from all parts of the country and beyond.
Professor Gambari will be addressing the plenary session alongside Kaduna State Governor Namadi Sambo and Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, who is also the Chairman of the Northern Governors forum. Shaukat Aziz will deliver the keynote address at the summit.
According to the organizers, the summit will afford stakeholders the opportunity to brainstorm on strategic topics as Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Solid Minerals, Education/Human Capital Development, Infrastructure, Environment, Financial and Investment Promotion, Agriculture and Good Governance.
The organizers also said in order to highlight the diverse, inclusive and non-partisan nature of the summit, notable Nigerians were drafted to the summit.
They include General Muhammadu Buhari, General Ibrahim Babangida, General Abdul-salami Abubakar, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, Alh-aji Maitama Sule and General T Y Danjuma.
Other notable politicians that will grace the summit are all former Senate Presidents and their deputies from the North, all former Speakers of the House of Representatives and their deputies from the North, the current Chief Justice of Nigeria and former Chief Justices of Nigeria (CJNs) from the North, the 19 Governors and their predecessors from the North and serving and former Ministers from the North.
In the business world, Alhaji Aliko Dangote will lead other industry moguls from the North, and all those running top Northern companies to attend.
Also in attendance will be the Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), the Chairman Northern Senators Forum (NSF), the Chairman Northern Union (NU), the President of NACCIMA and his predecessor from the North, and all serving and retired Ambassadors.
Alhaji Jani said that the NEIS 2008 is different from former summits in conceptualization, quality of participation and projected goals.
He said: "This is serious business. We are not organizing a talk shop. This summit will draw a road map for economic development and poverty eradication in Northern Nigeria."
Ibrahim, a Fellow of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (FNSE), also said the desire "to get it right and quickly too" informs the assemblage of core and key stakeholders in all the sectors and across the country.
"There is no politics, everyone is coming on board. In fact what we have is a brain trust as many professionals have volunteered their expertise for this project. Ours is an economic platform which does not discriminate on the basis of politics or religion. It is just the economy we are trying to deal with and we want everyone on board."
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