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By Ige Adekunle
The Centre for Economic Policy & Development Research (CEPDeR), Covenant University, Ota, says it will collaborate with University of Warwick to host 2023 National Budget Roundtable and Panel Discussion at the institution’s premises on March 30.
The Chairman of the CEPDeR, Dr Obindah Gershon, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen on Saturday in Ota, Ogun.
Gershon explained that CEPDeR was an offshoot of the Department of Economics and Development Studies at Covenant University, which has been proffering workable solutions to facilitate economic development in the continent.
The chairman added that this is an evidenced in the success of previous National Budget Roundtable editions in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, which is being achieved through the concerted and coordinated research activities on economic issues.
He stressed the need for such coordinated research activities as African economies were undergoing unique dynamics with declining government revenues and increasing debts.
“Nigeria typifies this situation with an increasing population and declining revenue from crude oil exports that has left the country with less money to spend on infrastructure and welfare.
“Furthermore, there are delays in building new schools and hospitals with a potential negative impact on socio-econonic wellbeing, if the trend continues,” he said.
Gershon said that given the above, national budgeting that caters for the people’s need has been challenging for many African governments. For instance, in Nigeria more people are unemployed 33 per cent of
the population as of 2021 vs 6% in 2014, and inflation has increased to a 17.5 year high of 21.91 per cent in February 2023.
He said that these economic realities are true for other nations across the world, but one difference is that many affected countries have been able to leverage digital databases and trusted data-sharing to reach their populations with targeted solutions.
Gershon noted that the Nigerian government has been pursuing a National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) aimed at creating an enabling environment for the promotion digital jobs across the country.
The 2023 National Budget Roundtable will be drawing Speakers/Panelists from agencies of government, private
sector and academia.
He listed some of the speakers and panelists expected as Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, Statistician General/CEO, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS); and Dr William Nwankwo Alo; Permanent Secretary,
Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy; Chibuike Goodnews.
Others are Academic Director for Africa, University Executive Office, University of Warwick; and Mrs Cynthia Ikponmwosa, the Managing Director, LAPO Microfinance Bank, while the panel session will be hosted by Nchedolisa Anamma.
Gershon said that the event would cover such areas like: how has national budgeting enabled Nigeria’s digitalisation strategy; how can budgeting be improved towards creating a digital economy; and to what extent is budgeting driving digitalisation towards increasing youth employment.
He added that social media marketing, banking and cybersecurity would also be discussed at the event.
(NAN)
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