Rivers Economic Summit: Sanusi Advances Solutions For Growth

-Fubara Congratulates Kano Emir On Reinstatement

The reinstated Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness (HRH), Muhammad Sanusi II, has stressed the need for urgent steps to be taken to deliberately rejuvenate enduring economic activities for growth, noting that the gross damage done to the national economy in the past 10 years, cannot be undone in one year.

Sanusi, who delivered a keynote address at the Rivers State Economic Summit in Port Harcourt, also called for a paradigm shift in harnessing efforts towards sustainable economic growth and prosperity with tenable decisions that strengthen governance around economic development.

The former CBN Governor noted that implementing reforms of an economy at any level of either state or nation can hurt mere politics, and indeed, painful because it will appear unpopular.

He said, “As the second largest economy in Nigeria after Lagos, Rivers State has a unique opportunity to emerge as a beacon of progress in all places.

“It has the opportunity to operationalize ideals of the concept of sub-nationalism in a federal context by building a resilient, dynamic, modern and effective system that fosters economic development and prosperity.

“But sitting on oil or any natural resources is not enough for economic development. Oil is a resource and is not enough to make us a wealthy country.

“To achieve development, it is imperative that we recognize the need to take specific steps that transcend natural resources, to diversify and institutionalize foundational economic framework to fully reap the blessing of all in stock.”

HRH Sanusi said in order to harness the abundant resources into a real blessing, leaders must stop being accursed so that they can make the right choices to foster deep thinking, and deliberate and strategic actions with the political will to perform and achieve sustainable development.

“Human capital and good governance are why countries that are complex in their characteristics such as India, Brazil, China and the US, have developed through innovation, intellectual probity, education and strong public institutions.

“We must put a stress on human capital and design education and skill training that are fit for this century.

“You need innovators and entrepreneurs that will supply services across all value chains and industries, and it is important to raise the quality of schools by investing in teaching capacity, learning tools and pedology that will nurture a culture of creativity and problem-solving.

“It is critically important to invest in vocational training and apprenticeship to close the education gap, aligning with the needs of our economy.”

Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the former Governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke, had accompanied Sanusi II, to the summit ground for his presentation.

Fubara, who in a statement congratulated His Royal Highness, Muhammad Sanusi II on his reinstatement as the 14th Emir of Kano, said that he received the news with great excitement, particularly coming at a time Khalifa Sanusi II was in the state to add impetus to his administration’s initiative to reshape the economic trajectory of the State.

He urged the spiritual leader of the Tijanniyah Sufi order of Nigeria, Emir Muhammad Sanusi II, “to lead the over 50 million adherents of the Sufi order in Nigeria with love, wisdom and courage while bringing lasting peace, justice, equity and fairness to all in the city of Kano.”

He also “wished the 14th Emir of Kano a successful and fruitful reign that will bring progress and prosperity to the people of the State.”