National Forum on Business Environment and
Public Presentation of " Business Environment in Nigerian States 2010"

It was torrent of praises for African Institute for Applied Economics (AIAE) as it publicly presented the business environment score card of Nigerian states as contained in the four hundred and two (402) paged publication titled “Business Environment in Nigeria States 2010: Tackling the Security Challenge”.

The book is co-authored by the Executive Director, Prof. Eric Eboh and Dr.  Jones Lemchi with contributions from Prof Edwin Igbokwe, Dr. Anthonia Achike, Mr. Oliver Ujah, Dr. Vincent Onodogo, Mr. Ito Diejomaoh, Nzeh Celestine and Chukwu Amaechi.

Speaking at the second national Forum on Business Environment across Nigerian States (tagged FOBEANS 2010), held on 23rd September 2010, at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja where the book was presented, the chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa who presided over the occasion said the research report was unprecedented and historic in the annals of Nigerian business community, calling on the government, the Organised Private Sector, NGOs, CSOs, the media and other stakeholders to take it up from there as advocacy issue. The report, according to him, has proffered answers to the country’s quest for evidenced based and scientific information for informed policy making.

Prof. Eric Eboh, the Executive Director of the Institute said while unveiling the rational behind the research noted that Business Environment and Competitiveness Across Nigerian States (BECANS), as a flagship of AIAE is hinged on promoting evidence-based reforms of the business environment in Nigeria, with focus on the sub-national jurisdictions.  

Prof Eboh stressed that, “The initiative is designed to supply independent research-based evidence on the business environment across Nigerian states, in an ongoing manner. Such evidence is essential to improve the quality of dialogue and advocacy. Also, BECANS provides benchmarking tools for business managers, investors and policymakers to identify specific competitiveness obstacles, thus stimulating critical thinking about strategies to overcome them. This business environment scorecard of Nigerian states is the second in the BECANS publication series. BECANS runs in successive cycles of research, surveys, dissemination and policy dialogue.”

The Senior Programme Monitoring Officer of IDRC Dr. Diakala Sanogo, noted that the report would stand the test of time, urging government to embrace it to better the lives of the citizenry. He gave AIAE a pat on the back, saying the Institute has demonstrated commitment to the International Development Research Centre (IDRC)’s  vision and it runs concurrently with the hallmark of Think Tank Initiative which is to link research with policy.

Other stakeholders who paid glowing tributes to the Institute on the research work at the forum included, Mr Muda Yusuf, the Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr John Isemede, the Director General of the Nigeria Association of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mines and Agriculture, (NACCIMA),Iyalode Alaba Lawson, National Vice President of NACCIMA,  Alhaji  Sanusi Maijama’a president of National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Dr. Ike Abugu  President of the Nigeria Association of Small  and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Chief J.A.C Ifechika stood in for the Director General of   the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN,)
Close to thirty states were represented by senior officials of their Planning Commissions, Investment Promotion Councils and Companies, Ministries of Finance, Ministries of Commerce and Industry, Internal Revenue Boards and other related Ministry Department and Agencies from the six geopolitical zones.   Representatives of Federal, States Private Universities and other higher institutions also graced the occasion.

The presentation which led to serious useful debates was graced by members of the diplomatic communities, international development partners and donors agencies in Nigeria. One hundred and forty (140) participants attended the forum.

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