CHIMA ANYASO EVALUATES NIGERIA SITUATION

This took place at the Gateway Art Center, New
York, United States. Keynote Speech by
Chimaobi Desmond Anyaso (CDA)
Your Excellence, Governor of Niger State,
Abubakar Sani Bello, Prof Pat Utomi,
prof Kingsley Moghalu. All Nigerian
present here, distinguished guests, ladies
and gentlemen, all protocols observed.
My name is Chima Anyaso, am the MD/
CEO CEECON Energy Oil and Gas
Limited, am also the owner and founder
of Le Paris Continental Hotel Lagos
Nigeria and the South East Regional
Chairman of Nigerian Young
Professionals Forum.
I begin with a quote from a famed 19th century
author and social reformer, Frederick Douglass.
He said and I quote: “If there is no struggle,
there is no progress”.
It should be noted that under President Buhari’s
watch, Nigeria’s foreign policy has regained its
traditional vibrancy, vigour and commitment.
Not only have we reclaimed our pride of place
and leadership on the continent and beyond, we
have also successfully secured foreign policy
actions to the achievement of domestic priority
drivers.
President Muhammodu Buhari has the arduous
task of ensuring that in managing Nigeria’s
affairs, he strikes the right balance between the
domestic scene that is characterised by
countless challenges and what some
forecasters may call internal paradoxes, and an
external environment that is competitive,
dynamic, fluid and volatile at the same time.
With the Nigerian economy in recession, support
for small and medium businesses could be one
of the key ingredients to carrying the country
through these tough times. Yet Nigerian
businesses and entrepreneurs are creative and
resilient – and could play an instrumental role
in lifting the economy out of recession, given
the right support and business environment…
Nigerian entrepreneurs and business owners are
the engines that drive the country’s economy.
Supporting them should become a priority for
the government.
It is important that government and other
stakeholders listen to entrepreneurs’ concerns
as we seek to grow and contribute to the
economy. We on the Nigerian Young
Professionals Forum, have embraced the
responsibility of helping to amplify the voice of
Small and Medium businesses, because we
understand the challenges entrepreneurs of
these businesses face in such times as we also
are in the quagmire together. With the
recession hitting hard, Small and Medium
Businesses face the reality that consumers
won’t have as much money to spend; while
investors and business partners will reduce
investment. Given that Nigeria has an estimated
37 million micro, small, and medium-size
enterprises making a significant contribution to
the Gross Domestic Product and employment -
this sector should be treated as an economic
priority.
It is our belief that the present economic
climate precipitates on the Government to
come up with a realistic economic plan of
diversification, reforms in the civil service, local
and state levels, budgets streamlining by the
National Assemblies and the central
government being judicious and transparent in
its dealing with the states. I also employ the
citizens especially the youths not to loose
hope; but rather, be very flexible, focused and
resolute.
Bearing this in mind however, if the dramatis
personae do not play their parts in this
unfolding drama, no one can do so, not even
God will come down and play the human parts
or roles for us. These industries are very pivotal
if Nigeria is to relate effectively with the world,
and Government needs to rapidly apply solid
solutions to liberate the nation from its current
recession through the following suggestive
ideas:
Let’schange our thoughts, and together, we can
build a New Nigeria!
Recovery of Nigeria’s over 100 Billion Dollars
which the country has abroad and with bailed-
out local banks; and do not borrow Cut Security
Vote both at the federal level and at state
levels Lower interest rates and promote small
businesses because they are employers of 80%
of labour force. As small businesses are being
killed, there will continue to be mass
unemployment, less purchase power and
economic recession Promote and standardize
“Made in Nigeria”. This must be more than just
a slogan Don’t think strength of the Naira - think
strength of the people. When the people are
strong, the Naira will get strong Strengthen and
decentralize the Police Force. The fastest and
best solution to the continuous breakdown of
law and order is a stronger and local Police
Find a Vision for Nigeria, so Nigerians are made
cognisant of this Vision for the future of the
nation
I end this discourse with yet another quote from
one of the finest leaders the world has
produced - President Barack Obama. He said
and I quote: “Change will not come if we wait
for some other person or some other time we
are the one’s we’ve been waiting for, we are
the change that we seek!”
This quotation becomes necessary when we
consider the present economic situation
coupled with the Change mantra which citizens
hold on to, that brought the APC led
government into power.
Let’s change our thoughts, and together, we
can build a New Nigeria!



Source :LIB
Edited by DANIEL IKECHUKWU EKWUNIFE