Daily Independent (Lagos)
Sylvester Enoghase
12 January 2009
interview
Charles Bakare, Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Corporate and Business Affairs Management (ICAM), said the institute has promoted good governance through capacity building training workshop for corporate affairs managers in the last six years in Nigeria. In an interview with Senior Correspondent, Sylvester Enoghase, at the recent corporate affairs and business managers capacity training programme and fellowship dinner in Lagos, Bakare insists that ICAM has carried out various capacity training programmes in the country as part of its efforts to rebuild, reposition and redirect managers in private and public business organisation in the country. Excerpts:
How has ICAM helped to implement and promote government capacity building policies in Nigeria?
The role of ICAM is awareness creation on capacity building among its members and policy makers for the benefit of Nigerians.
This awareness is about industrial policies, industrial laws, education and the capacity required for sustainable development.
We write and submit memoranda to the government regarding our opinion on certain issues. We have submitted policy papers to the government on certain issue, which have been very relevant on capacity building and employment generation opportunities.
Our role is a continuous one. We are involved in building appropriate management and occupational capacity that is required to manage industries properly and reduce inflation, which would lead to a sustainable economic and industrial growth in Nigeria.
What kind of policy will you recommend for Nigeria that would lead to unlocking the industrial development of the economy?
I would recommend policies that would encourage investment in the industries, allied sectors, agriculture and policies that would encourage investment in human capacity.
If government can galvanise policies to address these issues, it would go a long way in unlocking the doors of industrial development in Nigeria.
If I may be specific, what is your institute's entire portfolio for economic growth?
ICAM stands for building managers effectively with mission, values, innovation and new concepts with new opportunities for economic growth, development and stability for corporate excellence.
The council strongly believes that the impact of institute activities could only be felt more in corporate industries and national development through you as managers, eminent scholars, businessmen and women present here today.
This gathering will enable us share our ideas, views, values, opportunities and concepts that will reposition your organisation for greatness and optimal profitability.
It is now becoming obvious to everyone that of the factors, which are necessary for economic development, none is to be stressed than Strategic Business Management, Corporate Management, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Corporate Governance, Management of Change, Maintenance Culture Practice, Entrepreneurship Development through Human Capacity Development and Effective Resource Control.
We are fostering mutual understanding and cooperation among public and private sectors of the economy, as well as the civil society groups and also providing intellectual and technical support towards the empowerment of democratic institutions, civil society and public and private sector organisations.
Are you saying your concept on capacity building is indigenous in nature for a developing economy?
I have said earlier that most developing countries are faced with several challenges ranging from inflation, capital flight, brain drain, unemployment, mismanagement, corruption, lack of maintenance culture and a host of other problems. It must be noted that we need current strategies to tackle contemporary problems rather than stereotype outdated system, which can no longer weather the present challenges.
A realistic approach to the development of these economies calls for qualified high-level, manpower, especially at the management levels.
In this regard the institute is ready to train men and women in corporate management and strategic business management field for result oriented, who can take initiative rather than waiting for past challenge that may never come again.
The essence of such training is to enable them to look inward and discover method, approaches and strategies which, are required to build the country, put it on a sound footing.
In the present day organisations, it is the corporate affairs and business managers that determine the appropriate technology required and the best way to effectively utilise all types of resources (physical and human) available at his disposal.
It must also be noted that we are living in an age of rapid economic changes and most undoubtedly, we need strategies and survival principles with visible and oriented result to meet up with upcoming changes and tackle contemporary problems rather than applying old fashion, outdated methods that can no longer weather the present growing challenges.
What is responsible for the decay in the country's industries in the last 10 years?
The problem of the industrial decay in the country is not the problem of money but the problem of global competitiveness. There are much imports coming from all countries of the world into Nigeria that have resulted to the locally manufactured products more expensive.
We must make our industries competitive, make energy available cheap, remove multiple taxations and provide infrastructural facilities and this would reduce the cost of production and make our industries competitive globally.
It is not putting more money that would solve the problems of the industries in the economy.
It is unfortunate that government is not bringing in money, for instance, to save the textile industry, but only said to provide N80 billion at concessionary interest rate to make the manufacturers re-tool and buy more machinery in the industry.
What suggestion do you have for government on the challenges of economic development?
The challenge of national development is for government to manage the economy in such a way as to promote job-led growth rather than the present situation of jobless growth. But unemployment continues to be the number one problem in the country. This is largely due to the fact that the growth is concentrated in the crude petroleum sector, which continues to be an enclave. Government should decentralise the economy for genuine development to take place.
I strongly believe that to promote development and growth, there is need for government to go into partnerships with the private sector on selective basis until such a time that the domestic private sector becomes fully developed.
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