L-R Mojisola Saka, Private Sector Co-Chair, Media and Publicity Sub-Committee 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES 31); Mr Felix Okonkwo, Director, Macroeconomic Analysis Department, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning; Mr Niyi Yusuf, Chairman, Board of Directors Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG); Dr Tayo Aduloju, CEO, NESG and Mrs Ozofu Ogiemudia, Private Sector Co-Chair, Technical Sub Committee, NES 31 at the NES 31 Press Conference on Tuesday in Lagos.
By Fatima Saka
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, has officially flagged off preparations for the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES#31), slated from 6–8 October 2025 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
This year’s summit is themed “The Reform Imperative: Building a Prosperous and Inclusive Nigeria by 2030,” a call to action reflecting the urgency of Nigeria’s economic reality.
Delivering the welcome address, Mr. Niyi Yusuf, Chairman of NESG, traced Nigeria’s economic journey through decades of crises, reforms, and resilience. He noted that while the removal of fuel subsidies and the harmonisation of foreign exchange were bold steps, Nigeria must now embrace a second wave of structural reforms.
“Stability is not the destination,it is only the starting point. The Reform Imperative is not a choice; it is a necessity,” Yusuf declared.
Representing Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Minister for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Felix Okonkwo, Director of Macroeconomic Analysis, stressed that the summit aligns closely with the government’s reform agenda.
He highlighted improved fiscal stability, better debt management, and rising investor confidence as proof that Nigeria is moving in the right direction.
However, he cautioned that reforms must remain a continuous process, with deliberate investments in agriculture, education, health, and social protection to safeguard vulnerable populations.
He further spotlighted President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme as a transformative initiative targeting all 8,809 wards across 774 LGAs, aimed at uplifting more than 10 million economically active citizens. Okonkwo described the programme as “a paradigm shift that guarantees inclusivity and ensures no community is left behind.”
The Summit will centre around five critical sub-themes: “Driving industrialisation-led growth, Building infrastructure for competitiveness, Advancing inclusion for shared prosperity, Strengthening institutions for sustainable impact and Unlocking investment amid global trade shifts.
According to Dr. Tayo Aduloju, CEO of NESG, the Summits have historically shaped reforms in pensions, agriculture, and fiscal management, while guiding Nigeria through recessions. NES#31, he said, represents a defining moment to consolidate reforms, unlock investment, and align Nigeria with the aspirations of Agenda 2050.
READ ALSO: NAHCON Urges Media to Avoid Speculation Amid Allegations, Reaffirms Accountability
FG Launches Waste-to-Wealth Initiative to Empower Youth, Drive Climate Action in Nigeria
“As we enter the Agenda 2050 era, NES#31 must help us sustain momentum and translate resilience into renewal,” Aduloju emphasised.
The NESG therefore urged government, private sector, civil society, and development partners to actively participate in NES#31, framing it as a platform to chart a resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive Nigeria by 2030.
About the Author
