Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos has been named as the Nigerian Governor of the Year 2017 by the Worldstage Economic Summit (WES).

The Summit Principal Committee identified Ambode as a Governor with a difference “as a result of his efforts in new dimension to infrastructural and agricultural development in the state.” It noted that “his foresight in the production of LAKE Rice is deemed unprecedented.”

Other winners at the Worldstage Economic Summit held Wednesday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Lagos, include NIPCO Plc as the Nigerian Oil Marketing Company of the Year 2017, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) as the Nigerian Bank of the Year 2017.

Other awardees are Nigerian Gas Company of the Year 2017, Nigeria LNG Limited; Nigerian Airline of the Year 2017, Dana Air; Nigerian Telecommunication Company of the Year 2017, MTN; Nigerian Newspaper of the Year 2017, The PUNCH; Nigerian Television Station the Year 2017, Channels Television; Nigerian Online Media of the Year 2017, PREMIUM TIMES; Nigerian Regulator of the Year 2017, Nigerian Stock Exchange; Nigerian Public Institution of the Year 2017, Federal Inland Revenue Service; Nigerian Development Bank of the Year 2017, Bank of Industry; and Nigerian Airport of the Year 2017, MMA2

Speaking at the summit, the President/CEO of Worldstage Group, Mr. Segun Adeleye, charged all Nigerians and business owners within the country to imbibe innovation for economic development.

According to him, diversification into non-oil sectors may not be enough to sustain the nation’s economic development without adapting new ways of doing things. In his words, “Nigeria is projected to be the third most populous country behind India and China by 2050, any diversification now without innovation by businesses and government may be tantamount to running on the same spot.”

Presenting his introductory address at the summit, Mr. Adeleye explained that the theme ‘Transforming Business and Economy Through Innovation’ was inspired by a new thinking.

He said: “The reality today is that we have an economy where the majority is disenfranchised and trapped in irrelevance. Yet we are at a time in history of information explosion when nothing is hidden about where countries are and where they want to be in the future.

“While we are still lamenting the lost opportunity to have developed with our oil wealth in the past, we can see the future unfolding before us, just as how the internal combustion engine is projected to die and the oil business, the mainstay of our economy is to become obsolete in the very near future.

“If we all know the shape the future is taking, we as a nation cannot afford to be stranded with costly obsolete technology or waste valuable time before changing direction, unless we want to remain the dump site of the future.

“With the calls for Nigeria to diversify its economy from oil after several missed opportunities in six decades, the new question begging for answer, is how fast and far can diversification solve economic problems in the short, medium and long terms?”

Mr. Adeleye advised: “We should not make the mistake to think that because the people in government are educated and well-travelled, they will be conversant with the shape of things to come and pursue the right policies in infrastructure development, education, smart grid, clean energy among others. Sometimes, we have to question our sensitivity, sanity and care for fellow human beings and our country.”

The WorldStage CEO noted that so much has been read about the support for SMEs or MSMEs by the government from the federal to the local government level, yet in reality they don’t exist.

•Photo shows, L-R; Ogundeji R K. Deputy Director, FIIRO; Segun Adeleye, President, World Stage Limited; Barrister Sunday Oduntan, ED Research and Advocacy, ANED; Dr Abimbola Adegboye, Deputy Director, NAFDAC; Mr Soji Adeleye, CEO, Alfe City Institution and Dr Ayodele Shittu, University of Lagos at the World Stage Economic Summit 2017 held on Wednesday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Lagos.

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