Former Nigerian Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, and former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, have joined several former deputy governors to call for a renewed national focus on industrial productivity to accelerate economic growth. This call was made at the 4th Annual National Conference of the Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria, held in Abuja, with the theme “Boosting Nigeria’s Productive Capacity for National Growth and Self-Reliance: The Role of Leadership, Industry and Innovation in Policy Implementation.”
Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, in his keynote address, emphasized that Nigeria’s economic trajectory since independence has acknowledged the importance of industrialization but failed to maintain momentum due to political instability, policy inconsistencies, and weak national institutions. He noted that the collapse of industrial clusters in key locations was not due to ignorance of their benefits but rather policy inconsistency, ethnicity, corruption, and a loss of national values. Anyim stressed the need to protect local markets, improve infrastructure, and restore patriotism in governance to achieve a rapid turnaround in local production.
Senator Aliyu Wamakko, as Conference Chairman, commended the forum for its tradition of policy-oriented engagement and urged participants to focus on practical measures to reposition Nigeria’s industrial landscape for competitiveness and sustainability. He emphasized the importance of a shared vision and mutual agreement on a work plan to enhance trust, confidence, and development at the sub-national levels.
The National Chairman of the forum, Dr. Chris Akomas, highlighted that the conference aimed to explore strategic solutions for reviving Nigeria’s productive capacity and building a self-reliant economy based on leadership integrity, industrial growth, and innovation. Akomas noted that the forum has remained a platform for refined and unbiased discourse on policies capable of driving sustainable growth and unity of purpose.
Attendees, including former deputy governors, policymakers, private sector leaders, and development experts, engaged in plenary sessions focused on industrial innovation, leadership accountability, and strategies for policy coherence. The call for a renewed commitment to industrial growth underscores the significance of collaborative efforts between the government, private sector, and civil society in designing and implementing innovative strategies to unlock industrial capacity, generate employment, and strengthen economic resilience. By doing so, Nigeria can harness its potential and translate it into tangible growth, sustainable wealth, and an improved quality of life for its citizens.