Abuja Stands Still For Soludo At The First Abuja Investment Summit

MAZI EJIMOFOR OPARA. 

 

Governor Chukwuma Soludo CFR has delivered a thought provoking keynote address at the first ever Abuja Business and Investment Summit titled; “Nigeria: Securing The Future Through Sustainable Investment”.

Governor Soludo forcefully argued that the push for investment must be domesticated as what is called “foreign direct investment” would always follow the trail of domestic investments, especially the mega trends that determine macro economic outlooks. Thus, the country must look at intentionally raising what he refers to as “National Champions” whose risk appetite is fueled by Nationalism in this era of neo-mercantilism.

In what sank like a novel concept, Governor Soludo espoused the ethnicity of capital, defining it as system of arrangements where capital goes to where it calls home. Adding, however, that for Investments to be sustainable, Society must intentionally encourage and build systems that equalize opportunity. For him, qualitative education is one sure pathway to ensuring sustainable development where the children of the poor are guaranteed equal opportunity with children of the rich to rise on the social ladder.

This is why Anambra under his watch is strategically revisiting the foundations of basic opportunity matrix like it was in the 70s where the children of the rich and the poor went to same public schools and taught by the same teachers. In Anambra under Soludo, education is absolutely free at all public schools from Nursery to Senior Secondary. So also is antenatal and delivery services for pregnant women.

The well attended event, which held at the Shehu Musa Yaradua Centre, had in attendance, the Hon. Minister of the FCT, HE. Barrister Nyesom Wike, the Group Managing Director of Abuja Investment Company Limited, Amb. Maureen P. Tamuno; Heads of Foreign Missions, Permanent Secretaries, Development Partners and many dignitaries.