Presentation of Book on Global Economic Crisis: Encomiums on AIAE

 April 15, 2010-Like a heavy rain in the tropics, various participants at the Public Presentation of Book-Global Economic Crisis: Taking the Right Lessons, Avoiding the Wrong Lessons, poured encomiums on the African Institute for Applied Economics (AIAE) for taking the bold steps of facilitating the publication of the book less down one year after the National Policy Symposium on the crisis was held in Abuja.

The well  artistically bounded book was edited by Professor Eric Eboh, the Executive Director of AIAE, a renowned Policy Economist, and Professor Osita Ogbu, former Chief Economic Adviser of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chief Executive Officer, National Planning Commission of the Federal Government of Nigeria. While welcoming the participants to the event, Professor Eboh said the book was designed to benefit different segments of the society, adding that it revealed evidence to inform and influence economic policies.

“Stakeholders can use its policy recommendations as agenda points for dialogue and advocacy. The Book is valuable educational and reference material for students, academics, researchers, development practitioners and the media. More than just Public Presentation of this Book, this Forum is intended to reiterate the salient issues and ideas which were canvassed at the National Symposium, and still remain relevant and alive. Stakeholder for a, like this one, represent core element of our Institute’s strategy of economic research policy linkages for increased research uptake in policymaking,” he noted

The Co-Editor of the book, Prof. Osita Ogbu said editing the book was noteworthy, saying the masterpiece would go a long way to help policymakers design a laudable policy for the country.” I am delighted to have participated in this exercise. Editing was a challenge, but we are proud of the end product,” he noted.   

Chairman of the occasion, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, (president of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) commended  AIAE  for doing a yeoman’s job in putting the work together, which he described as unprecedented in the history of Nigeria. Ohuabunwa, who is also a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC) disclosed that he had read parts of the book and discover that it was a dividend of the Public Private Partnership  (PPP),noting that based on the contents of the book, the country needs to diversify its resources so as to prepare for the rainy day.

 “The book is wonderful and it would help those of us who are into planning for our country. Planning is for unforeseen circumstances and the lessons to learn and the ones to avoid would help us to do our job better. I congratulate AIAE”- Representative of the Honourable Minister and Deputy Chairman, National Planning Commission, Professor Sylvester Monyei

“The book traced the origin of the crisis which has shaken the whole world to the root. Though the effect of the crisis less in Nigeria, it questions the sustainability of the free market economy. The authors of the book were able to give us what to think about. It is good for database studies and reference for other all the stakeholders. AIAE, in its usual manner, has demonstrated its commitments to evidence-based policy seminar follow- up again, I congratulate the Institute.”  - Dr. Ifediora Amobi, Senior Special Adviser to the Acting President on National Development Matters and the Book Reviewer.

“The book has exposed the real lessons to be learnt and it is appropriate that AIAE has put the papers from the last year’s Symposium together in one book. It also exposes how macro economic and fiscal policies should be managed. I commend AIAE for its initiative.”-Mr Keith Hammond, DFID Abuja, Nigeria.

“I am very happy to be part of the Public presentation of this masterpiece which has shown the position of AIAE not only in Africa but in the world. It is in line with IDRC vision. The book is therefore recommended for all African countries.”-  Dr. Diakalia Sanogo , IDRC ,Dakar

“We are happy to collaborate with AIAE. The book is the dividend of last year’s Symposium. Before now, there is no adequate scaling of Public Policy Debate. The book is a benchmark for looking at the after affects of how the crisis affects labour market, income, fiscal policy and national development”- Patterson Ekeocha PARP, National Assembly

“The book has emphasised that market economy is subject to crisis no matter how you manage it. With this book, we can now see that the crisis is an opportunity to think outside the box, because government failure is more than market failure.”-Prof. Akpan Ekpo, WAIFEM

“It is important we know the kind of regulation we actually need. Government and private sector need to maintain separate identities. We also need to build our Institutions, and I think the book has exposed us to some other lessons we need to learn as a country._ Prof Gini Mbanefoh, former Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

“We like to congratulate AIAE on putting together this great work.  It is great to have people who can think of what hit us and how it did. AIAE has done well by bringing all the critical stakeholders to illuminate on the nucleus of the crisis and put it in a book. I think this will continue, we therefore pledge our support for AIAE.”- Dr.  Ike Abugu    Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME).

“Without doubt, the publication is very apt, relevant and will make very informative reading for policy makers. I therefore commend your efforts in putting the papers together in good time and in quality form. Accept my hearty felicitation on the publication of your new book and also my very best wishes at the book presentation.”- Stephen Oronsaye, CON, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation

“I must pay tribute to your Institute for the laudable and bold initiative for publishing a book on the challenges and the opportunity presented by the global economic crisis, with particular emphasis on its attendant implications on the Nigerian economy. I am highly optimistic that Government institutions, the private sector, the academia, civil society organisations and other research institutes would find this compendium a useful reference in decision making process, as Nigeria remains resolute in its ongoing fight against the challenges posed by the global financial and economic meltdown.”- Ambassador (Dr.) Martin I. Uhomoibhi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

“May I use this opportunity to commend you and your Team for coming up with a book that deals with the Global Economic Crisis and how Nigeria can cope with the Situation. The value of this book to both the Government and Non-Governmental organizations in Nigeria at this time cannot be quantified. Congratulations on these giant strides taken to address the Nigerian Economic Crisis.”- Nnanyelugo Dan Onyishi, Executive Secretary, Office of the Governor, Enugu State Economic Planning Commission

“I congratulate the authors of this noble initiative. I also note with pride that this book could not have been published at a better time than now as we are in the period of economic revival following the global economic crisis. Without doubt, the book will enrich the economic corpus of the nation and thereby go a long way in contributing to the development of our economy”- Femi  Gbadegesin for Director General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN)