IGD's Frontier 100 Forum brings together leading CEOs and executives in Abuja Abuja, Nigeria. May 5, 2014-The Initiative for Global Development (IGD) convened its tenth Frontier 100 Forum today, bringing together CEOs and senior executives from sector-leading corporations around the world. The Forum's theme, "Nigeria: Navigating for Success in a Dynamic Market,"highlights the importance of Nigeria as an investment destination, and the economic potential of the country.
"It is our pleasure to host the tenth Frontier 100 Forum here in Abuja, demonstrating IGD's commitment to catalyzing business investment to drive poverty reduction,"said Lisa Nelson, IGD's interim CEO and president. "The choice of Abuja as a host city was a strategic decision for IGD, presenting the prime backdrop to discuss the many challenges and opportunities Nigeria specifically and Africa as a whole present for our members."
Between 2005 and 2013, Nigeria's GDP growth rate averaged 6.8 percent, and the country last month became the largest economy in Africa. Nigeria has recently made progress in diversifying its economy away from the oil and gas industries, and has experience growth in the film, music, telecoms, and e-commerce industries. But challenges ranging from education to political violence have haunted Nigeria, slowing growth and discouraging investment.
Through its Frontier 100 Forums, IGD brings together corporate leaders to explore partnerships and address challenges through discussions. This Forum featured high-level guest speakers such as H.E. Olusegun Aganga, Nigeria's Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment; and H.E. Chinedu Nebo, Nigeria's Minister of Power. The discussion groups centered around entrepreneurship and jobs creation; agribusiness; power; ICT, and structured networking sessions, organized by IGD to identify and foster opportunities for collaboration. Attendees included Andrew Alli, CEO of Africa Finance Corporation; Joseph C. Brandt, President & CEO of ContourGlobal, who joined IGD's Frontier Leader network to make valuable connections with other CEOs and executives, which lead to strategic investments that make meaningful impact throughout Africa.
As part of the Forum, IGD also partnered with the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) to welcome a delegation of senior executives from The Kingdom of Morocco to discuss ways to expand economic and commercial engagement across the African continent. Morocco serves as a key facilitator of international investment in Africa, a gateway to the continent and a collaborative partner of African businesses committed to private sector-driven economic growth in several important sectors.
Additionally, IGD also welcomed its Forum collaboration with its new partner, the Nigeria Leadership Initiative, an international non-profit and non-partisan organization that provides a platform for highly accomplished Nigerian leaders to enhance or develop their value-based skills and to assume a transformative role in Nigeria.
