Good governance, path to economic development, achieving ERGP plans says Udoma

Nigeria says the goals of its Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) would be achieved by focusing on driving good governance as a path to sustainable human and economic development.

Udoma Udo Udoma, the country’s minister for budget and planning said this in Abuja while announcing the 24th Nigerian Economic Summit that will take place on 22 and 23 of October.

The summit which takes place annually ensures dialogue is driven amongst top policy makers and corporate leaders that will lead to the development of policy frameworks expected to address issues constraining national development.

According to Udoma, the summit has over the years helped to shape many of the reform policies underpinning the evolution of the country’s growth and development.

Announcing the theme for the summit as “Poverty to Prosperity: Making Governance and Institution Work”, Udoma explained that it is coming on the back drop of the ERGP which clearly indicates that good governance at all levels is crucial for the success of the plan.

“It is in this context that the plan maps out strategies to improve governance by entrenching transparency and fighting corruption, reinforcing security, reforming the public service and strengthening coordination with sub-national governments,” he said.

Udoma noted that the government has continued to implement various strategies outlined in the ERGP towards enhancing good governance, and expressed hope that the platform will become a veritable one for creating and expanding opportunities in Nigeria.

Also to take place at the summit is the opportunity for eight start-ups to pitch their ideas to venture capitalists and angel investors, Udoma revealed.

He said these start-ups were selected from over 745 applicants who submitted their applications through the ministry’s application portal opened 1^st August.