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The former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, and several former deputy governors have called for a renewed national commitment to industrial productivity as a means to accelerate Nigeria’s economic growth.
The call was made at the 4th Annual National Conference of the Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria, held in Abuja on Tuesday, with the theme, “Boosting Nigeria’s Productive Capacity for National Growth and Self-Reliance: The Role of Leadership, Industry and Innovation in Policy Implementation.”
Delivering his keynote address, former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim noted that Nigeria’s economic trajectory since independence had recognised the importance of industrialisation but failed to sustain its momentum due to political instability, policy inconsistency, and weak national institutions.
“The imperative of a productive economy was never lost on our governments since 1960,” he said.
According to him, “The collapse of industrial clusters in places like Kano, Kaduna, Aba, Onitsha, and Lagos was not due to ignorance of their benefits but because of policy inconsistency, ethnicity, corruption, and loss of national values.
“Every successful local economy enjoys both policy protection and a competitive production environment. If we must achieve quick turnaround in local production, we must protect our markets, improve infrastructure, and restore patriotism in governance.”
In his remarks as Conference Chairman, Senator Aliyu Wamakko commended the forum for sustaining a tradition of policy-oriented engagement, while urging participants to focus on practical measures that could reposition Nigeria’s industrial landscape for competitiveness and sustainability.
He emphasised the importance of a shared vision and mutual agreement on a work plan to enhance trust, confidence, and development at the sub-national levels.
“I urged all stakeholders to maintain their commitment and efforts, as they played a vital role in propelling Nigeria towards prosperity and self-reliance,” he added.
On his part, the National Chairman of the forum, Dr Chris Akomas, said the conference was convened to explore strategic solutions for reviving Nigeria’s productive capacity and building a self-reliant economy anchored on leadership integrity, industrial growth, and innovation.
Akomas, who served as deputy governor of Abia State, noted that the forum—established to foster continuous dialogue on governance and national development—has, over the years, remained a platform for “refined and unbiased discourse” on policies capable of driving sustainable growth and unity of purpose.
“Nation-building is not a sprint; it is a continuous process. The destiny of our nation rests not in the hands of a few, but in the collective resolve of all citizens,” he said.
“Nigeria’s challenge has never been the absence of potential but how best to harness and translate that potential into tangible growth, sustainable wealth, and improved quality of life for our people.”
He urged the government, private sector, and civil society to collaborate in designing and implementing innovative strategies that would unlock industrial capacity, generate employment, and strengthen economic resilience.
The conference was attended by former deputy governors, policymakers, private sector leaders, and development experts, who engaged in plenary sessions focused on industrial innovation, leadership accountability, and strategies for policy coherence.
Anyim, Wamakko, former deputy governors urge renewed commitment to Nigeria’s industrial growth
