The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has told the federal government that poverty reduction is not all about handing out cash to poor and vulnerable people, but by deliberate policy shift that will unlock economic prosperity.
It noted that although the government has implemented social programmes, there is a need to prioritize investments in young Nigerians.
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The Chairman, NESG, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja during a press briefing on the 27th Nigerian Economic Summit (#NES27) to hold from October 25-26, 2021 in Abuja.
He said: “The government is implementing bold social programmes to reduce the number of our poor through interventionist programmes. Still, the fact of the matter is poverty eradication is not just about providing money. There is a need to prioritize investments in our youth by upskilling them for the jobs of the future and opening up the social and political space for them to become a positive force for national development.”
In his remarks, the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem I. Agba, said the theme of the summit, ‘Securing the Future: The Fierce Urgency of Now’, builds on conversations from last year’s summit, which emphasised the importance of harnessing critical and strategic partnership to navigate the economy towards recovery and resilience.