Training Workshop for BECANS II Enumerators

In line with its dogged commitment to the success of the Business Environment and Competitiveness Across Nigerian States, second cycle (BECAN 2), African Institute for Applied Economics , Enugu (AIAE) has organised a training workshop for the field officers from the six geo political zones of the country. The workshop was held on the 27 to 28 October, 2009 at Valencia Hotels Abuja, Nigeria. .

Launched in 2007, BECAN is a flagship project of AIAE aimed at showcasing how the federal, states and the local government in a federal state can play noble roles for conducive business environment. The programme is premised on an evidence-based stakeholder dialogue and feedback for a better business environment in the states across the country. The second cycle of the project (BECAN 2) would provide opportunity to reach all the states of the federation and ensure wide participation by the stakeholders.

In his welcome address at the workshop, the Executive Director of the African Institute for Applied Economics (AIAE), Professor Eric Eboh reminded the field officers comprising proven researchers from all parts of the country that the purpose of BECAN was to provide credible tool for local and foreign investors, civil society groups and the organised Private Sector (OPS) to dialogue with government for successful business operations.

He added that the research work would provide scientific evidence for monitoring business environment for Nigerian states on an going basis, saying it would also provide information tool for peer review, mutual learning and experience on best practices in Nigerian states.

On the basis for the workshop, the said it would give the participants opportunity the necessary skill needed to collect and data and would create synergy among the field officers for a common goal. He urged the field officers to ensure honesty in their conduct and keep all the necessary data so that the objective of the project would not be defeated.” “It is the result of the data you give to us that will make a big success of this laudable project, so I expect us to be accurate and down-to-heart in all aspects of the research work” he noted.

Shortly after Professor Eboh's address, the facilitators of the workshop presented their papers which were designed to be guides for the researchers in the field. The facilitators included; Professor E.M Igbokwe, Dr. (Mrs) A.I Achike, Dr. Vincent Onodugo, Dr. Jones Lemchi and Mr. Oliver Ujah.